My Christmas break is officially over. Over the break, I spent two and a half weeks back home with my family, and it was glorious. I got to see a ton of people that I hadn’t spent time with since I moved. I got to hang out with my family a lot and share some really special moments with them. And I took some time to be super-lazy and watch a ridiculous amount of Netflix. Sounds like the perfect break, right? Well, it was, and I loved every second of it.

But all good things must come to an end. Last Saturday, I loaded up my car and made the trek back to Waco, Texas. Don’t get me wrong. I love Waco. I love my apartment, my school, my job, and my friends here. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about leaving my family and my wonderful break behind as I return to the real world. I loved my time at home, and I didn’t want it to be over. It’s very strange transitioning from living in a house full of the sounds of a laughing toddler to a quiet apartment. But life must go on, so here I am in Waco, preparing to get back into my regular routine. It’s time to get back to normal.

But “back to normal” doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The truth is that I thrive when I’m on a regular schedule. Breaks confuse me because they throw my internal clock off, and my days lose their regular structure. So if nothing else, I’m at least looking forward to having that structure back now that school is starting again. The regular schedule is good for me. It keeps me efficient, and I always know exactly what I need to be doing. So I’m definitely looking forward to that.

Another great thing about getting back to normal is going back to work. I love my job, my co-workers, and the work that we do. It’s a great place to be, and I get a great sense of fulfillment out of it. Plus it just feels good to work hard to earn money. It’s something that I really enjoy, and I’m looking forward to getting back to that.

Also, “back to normal” means back to school. And in case you guys haven’t noticed, I absolutely love seminary. I love the professors, I love my classmates, and I love learning about God and his word. I’ve never been more excited to learn than I am right now, and it feels good. I’m definitely ready to get back in class.

So while I’ve loved being home and will definitely miss it, I’m also looking forward to getting back to normal. Because normal is actually really special and meaningful. I’m so thankful for my “normal” life in Waco, because it’s anything but mundane. Here’s to getting back to normal, and to a wonderful new semester.