Tag: life

James HoganLeave a comment

Wow, the last couple of days have just been AWESOME. I’m back in Gainesville…enjoying my last few days of the college life, yeah!!

I wish I could fully explain how I feel…so full of joy and yet wistful at all that I will soon be leaving. I wish I could tell you how great the last few days have been…just relaxing and chilling with my friends – from watching Fellowship of the Ring while a thunderstorm rages outside to playing Assassin’s Creed with the rooommates (think epic rooftop-running, knife-throwing, swordsman-awesomeness type game!!) to having intense conversations with Rob (four years is just not long enough to spend with him…….) to having one final Prayer and Praise tonight at Laurie and Janna’s new place(walking outside under the stars and praying with your friends – what can beat that????) to having my birthday celebration with the roommates and Shari and Amy and Deanna and Alex (I’m not really a fan of big parties – spending the night getting sugared up on chocolate deliciousness while talking and laughing and just enjoying life with your best friends…oh is God good!!!).

So yeah. It’s been real. It’s been fun. And I am ever-so-thankful to our Father from whom all blessings flow!!! All glory to Him!!!

James HoganLeave a comment

Well, it’s almost time for bed, but right now I’m just relaxing on the couch at home in Tampa and loving the post-college life!! I went to Maryanne’s senior achievement banquet at Gaither tonight…where she won many awesome awards!! Hmm, speaking of awesome, they should have just made an “Awesome Award” and given it to her. On account of being awesome. I love my little sis!!

Hmm, I feel my vocabulary suffers a bit when I’m lacking sleep.

Anyways, in other news, I’m still trying to find an apartment in Houston. You may think that would be easy, but it becomes far more difficult when my only source of information is the dreadfully unreliable Internets. It’s even more frightening to realize I will be living in Houston in practically a month!!! Whoa.

And in other other news, I’m going back to Gainesville tomorrow…for what will most likely be my last hurrah!! Mm, I’m going to miss Gville. A lot. And by Gville, I mean I’m going to miss my friends. And as always…you know who you are. I don’t cry(seriously, I don’t. I don’t think I have since I was a kid)…but if I did…well, just thinking about leaving you all…it’s tough. Real tough. And yes, I know that there are lots of awesome people out in the world and that there are lots of awesome people in Houston and that I will meet lots of awesome people there this year. But I want to be with YOU ALL – my awesome friends that I have gotten so close to these past few years and will so dreadfully miss when I move.

…and now I’m getting sentimental. SAVE ME!!

It’s just that I’m jumping into such a new life…college was really just like an adult version of high school. I still had all my high school friends and school is…well, school. Now I will be starting an actual job. I will know almost no one in Houston. And I have yet no idea where I’ll be going to church(actually this is what I’m the most nervous about!!). But you know what? I will not be discouraged or anxious. Because no matter what I feel now(stupid emotions!! I wish I was like Spock from Star Trek…cool, calm and completely rational), I know that this coming year in Houston will be filled with awesomeness. Because God has so decreed.

I do so wish I wasn’t so “emotional” though. But, nothing I can do about that.

Alas.

…and wow, this entry is really random. Apologies!!

And I also wonder how many times I’ve used “awesome” in this entry. I have a bad feeling it may be in the double digits.

Oh and on yet ANOTHER note…I have henceforth decided I will not like girls. You of the female persuasion are SO much fun as friends and all…but seriously, it’s so much harder when I start liking you! Very distracting. Totally not cool. Thus I have decided that my emotions are null and void and that I will not like girls. So much easier. So much less painful. The end.

…if only it were that easy!!!! But seriously, I have realized that I need to stop thinking that a girl is the answer to problems. False. A girl has just as many problems and thoughts and feelings and emotions and hopes and prayers and dreams as I do… and by not realising that, I’m diminishing her status as a person and child of God!! And secondly, a relationship isn’t just about me. Actually, it’s not much about me at all. It’s about how we can serve God together…and then serve each other unselfishly and joyously!! So really, the moment I start thinking it’s all about me, I’m toast. So WHY oh WHY do I persist in focusing on this mythic relationship with a sweet girl when I really need to just focus on my REAL relationship with my LORD Jesus Christ?? Because I’m stupid, that’s why. But oy. I didn’t mean to go into all that now. All I can say is…I praise my holy and almighty Father for all He has done for me!!! When all is said and done, that’s really all I care about.

And again…wow. I really need to not write entries when I’m about falling asleep! Thus, I will end this literary failure and get some sweet sleep!

James HoganLeave a comment

Today’s such a beautiful morning!! Well actually, it’s not morning anymore, but it’s still beautiful!! I slept in for the first time in a LONG time and then made some delicious coffee as I read and relaxed on my bed. Oh and why am I doing so much relaxing? Well, I just – you know – graduated. Yep. It feels like it was just yesterday that I started at the University of Florida, and now I hold a degree. Wow. Finally though, I can see the fruits of my labor…and yet again, I can’t thank God enough for his goodness to me in giving me the ability and giving me the strength to survive college (mostly!) intact!

And I really feel like writing a long semi-philosophical entry about life and my upcoming adventures in Texas and my sorrows at leaving my friends and my sadness about going so far from my family and my (still!!) uncertainty about the mysterious nature of females(ok, maybe you all don’t want to hear about that…!!) and my growing excitement to see what kind of epic journey is in store for me as I take the plunge into the oh-so-deep river of post-college life. Will my journey down this river be relaxing and trial-free(ok, I know the answer to that question) or will it be as crazy as descending the Falls of Rauros(+10 to anyone who knows where that comes from!)?

But really, I know that even though I don’t know the future, I know it will be good. And I know that even though I’m leaving all my friends behind, I WILL meet new awesome people in Houston. It has so been decreed. And I can thank God for his wonderful grace that He has given to me.

And now, I go. Today is going to be a day of Middle-Earth Domination as me and Galan and George Lebo play some sweet Lord of the Rings Risk. And in the middle of the game, I’m going to make an awesome pork chops dinner. Mmmm….I’m already hungry. Oh wait. That’s because I haven’t eaten anything today. Oops.

Farewell all!!

James HoganLeave a comment

God is so good.

And I cannot repeat that enough.

Today I took my last college final EVER! Woke up around 7:30, studied a little, had my bacon and coffee and then went out to dominate my exam. Well, I didn’t quite dominate it, but I know I did good enough. Good enough to pass the class. Good enough to graduate.

And as I think about the many exams I’ve taken over the years and the times I’ve despaired over a seemingly unbeatable class and the times I’ve spent walking around outside at four in the morning praying that I would pass and the times that I’ve stayed up all night trying to finish a project…well, all I can say is…God gave me the strength. And I am grateful. And by His help, I have conquered.

But besides just the academic side of my college career…I think with fondness of all the amazing friends I’ve made. And I cannot…I can’t say enough how much I’ve been encouraged and strengthened and loved by my friends…you all know who you are. I am exceedingly grateful.

After my exam today, a bunch of us(me, Deanna, Shari, Amy, Katheryn, Dream) took some graduation pictures together around campus and we just soaked in the last few moments we have together!! And this evening was the ISE banquet – Cameron sponsored it – in which I got a chance to see and talk to some of my fellow students I’ve sweat and bled with these past few years. And I realized that the time of the college student is over. The time of the full-time worker is about to begin.

But besides all that sentimental stuff(sorry, I’m sure you all didn’t want to hear all of that!!) the banquet was quite good with yummy food and good entertainment(an improve group)…and Deanna came with me, so it was sweeeet hanging out with her for the evening(we always have such good times!!).

And tomorrow? Eh, nothing much happens tomorrow. I just graduate. You know.

And now, time to hang with Rob for a bit. And by hang, I mean we’re going to play some Battle for Middle Earth together…yeeeeah!

Sleep? Nah. You all can do that. If I haven’t already put you to sleep yet!! G’night!!

James HoganLeave a comment

And another Monday morning! Except this Monday morning just happens to be the last Monday of classes. WHAT!

And in other news, we turn in our senior project this afternoon, finally! Tomorrow = lit exam and energy management presentation. Wednesday = lean exam. Ugh. At least…I’m finally on the homestretch. One final push and school is done. Forever! I’m still unsure if that’s a good or a bad thing.

Oh and this weekend was another weekend of awesomeness, of course! Don’t really have time to go through all that we did, but let’s just say Saturday was full of breakfast deliciousness at Peach Valley and millions of books at the Friends of the Library booksale(of which I only bought about eight – picked up some classic Asimov and Card and found a sweet 1909 copy of The Odyssey) and disc golf with Rob(after which we satisfied our hunger with a delicious pepperoni pizza at Pizza Hut, mmm….) and contra dancing with the gang…and wow that was a really long sentence. And after all that, went home exhausted and sweaty(dancing is hard work!) but supremely satisfied with yet another Sweet Saturday!!

It was so delightful to be able to worship at church on Sunday…but sadly after that, the whole day was spent on senior project. Boo. After which I was finally able to come home(about 11:30) and eat a salad and burrito(nothing better – especially when the salad contains tomatoes and olives…!).

Anyways, I’ve written more than I should have. Now, it’s time to meet Dream to pick up our caps and gowns. For GRADUATION. Eek. Or rather…YES. I don’t know what I’m feeling more!

Peace out!

James HoganLeave a comment

Wow, it’s been a long week…and yet again, it’s another late night in which I should just go to sleep!! But yet again, have had another sweet night and just wanted to share my joy! Had good times with Dream and Laura and Laura and David and David and Allison at Gator Dining…a freshman year reunion! Haha, nothing like going back to the dining hall in which we literally spent hundreds of hours a few years ago…having crazy times and eating too much. Yep. Freshman year all over again!! After that, hung out at Dream’s place for a few minutes(had to finish my time there with a Muse dance party. Yeah, you know!) and then I made my way back home.

Rob and Galan were chilling here at home and after a few minutes Rob had the urge to go use our free softdrink coupons at the Kangeroo gas station…so me and Rob went on a late night expedition to claim our drinks! After we got those, we decided we couldn’t end the night so soon…and so we went on an adventure to Wal-Mart. Haha, nothing like midnight in Wal-Mart! It was just so sweet talking and chilling with Rob after a busy week in which we barely saw each other. Man. I’m going to miss my brother.

But indeed…God is good. And tonight was one of his many blessings to me.

And now. Sleep.

YES.

James HoganLeave a comment

So…I’m quite exhausted and I really should go to sleep now. But why am I still up? Well, just wanted to talk about how amazing tonight was…was at the LAST Creekside Wednesday night college group meeting…after four sweet years, it’s finally over. And what a blessing it’s been!! Tonight after singing some awesome songs, four of us seniors(Dream, Andrew, Katheryn and me) talked to the rest of the group. And it was just SO encouraging hearing how God’s been blessing their lives these past few years…and then I got to share for a little bit and it was just…I don’t know how to say it. But just being able to talk about my heavenly Father and about how He’s changed MY LIFE…I felt so overwhelmed. And I still feel that way. All glory to our Messiah!!

And now, as happy as I feel…I am about to pass out from exhaustion. It is time for sweeeet sleep. G’night all!!!

James HoganLeave a comment

It’s a beautifully cold morning!!! Even though it’s April, winter decided it wasn’t dead yet and gave us sub-40 degree weather. Gorgeous!! I’m so happy that before the deadly onslaught of blistering heat we get one last crisp day! And of course, since we had lit class today, I made my coffee and thus felt warm inside and cold outside and it was good.

Lit class was as awesome as always…I just so much enjoy discussing books and social theories with others…and hearing other people’s views. Because they’re so different from my own. I’m going to be sad when this class is over…

Alright…I should probably amble off to class. I guess I’m just too comfortable here in the computer lab typing away! It was cool earlier – I was sitting here emailing someone when Shari walked in! I love seeing friends randomly…it’s so awesome that after four years here at UF, as I walk around campus daily, I always see people I know(whether it be from a function three years ago or even someone from high school!)…I’m going to miss that when I move to Houston – not sure if I’ll have quite the extended network there that I do here!

Mm, now I really need to get to class, which starts in fifteen minutes. Ah well. Two hours of class is sometimes fun. Actually wait. Nope, it’s never fun. Well, I hope everyone is having an amazing day!! I definitely will, enjoying the cold and the blessings surrounding me…praise be to the Father!!!

And now, signing off…Class time.

James HoganLeave a comment

The sun is finally coming out!! I’ve been sitting here doing homework(I know, shocking, isn’t it!?!?!) at the christian study center and it’s been gray and gloomy and raining most of the morning…but now at least I see the sun outside the window! I think I may go outside now! And I finally finished up my homework – it’s due in an hour and I very successfully put off doing it until this morning. So sadly this morning wasn’t as relaxing as some of my Monday mornings…but I was most productive!!

And maybe I should go through how sweet my past weekend’s been, but seriously, every one of my weekends is always awesome! On Saturday, I had a gloriously relaxing day that ended up with some sweet volleyball with Deanna and others and after that me and Andrew and Deanna went back to her place and we relaxed with Shari and Amy there a while. And indeed, I felt so blessed!! To be able to talk and chill with your friends without a care in the world…truly I’m going to miss times like this.

Anyway, as much as I’d like to finish up chronicling the weekend, I think it is time to go and enjoy the now-beautiful day! And I’m sorta hungry too. I haven’t quite eaten today. Oops. Well, off to have an adventure on campus…and by adventure, I mean class. But class just sounds SO much more boring.

Alright, farewell all!! Have a wondrously awesome day!!