Marty Westerholm Update: mach 5 with hair on fire...

This semester has been a hectic ride but I have finally reached a point
where I feel like I can breathe again. Wrote a couple of exams and
handed in a couple of term papers this past week, and am down to one
last exam in a couple of days. This has been by far the busiest
semester of my life, perhaps for no other reason than an unprecedented
effort and commitment on my part. I coasted through Highschool and
even the first couple of years of university, but something clicked in
the last month or so last year, and all through the summer and this
first semester my intellectual curiosity has been through the roof, and
I have jumped into my work as never before. It has been an absolute
blast, perhaps I have finally made peace with the inner nerd I tried so
hard to deny:). I feel in some ways that God just said "ok, I've let
you have your fun but I have something for you and it's going to
involve your mind, and it's time to get serious"... or something like
that. Anyway, school is a blast.

Been having a good time here in the residence building too (I'm a
supervisor/advisor). I haven't connected with my floor with the
passion that I did last year where we all became the tightest family
imagineable, but there are still some fantastic people here that I have
really bonded with. I think the degree to which academics have become
my focus have prevented the same kind of bond this year, but there is
also a three-four year gap between my kids and me, and there is a
noticeable maturity gap that is frustrating at times. I have
absolutely loved working here in the residence but there are enough
tell-tale signs that I don't think I'll be coming back. Looks like
I'll be living off campus next year with a few amazing friends. There
are four of us looking for a house together and it's going to be the
most amazing-fun house ever!! I like to think we're all fundamentally
responsible, but boy do we know how to laugh and have a good time. The
other three are just wonderful, solid people. All christian and all
super.

While this semester has been amazing, and I've really felt at peace
over making peace with my inner nerd, I would have to say that if there
is an area in which it has been disappointing it is in my relationship
with God. I am by nature a passionate person who either loves
something or doesn't care for it much at all; either does something
%100 all the way or not at all; and spiritually I find I am either on
top of the world or being dragged through a valley and holding on for
dear life.

Anyway, to bed I go. Hope all is well in your respective worlds. Much
love for you and those around you.

Marty