It's crazy to think of how much has changed over the past twelve months. Incase you weren't sure, here's a throwback to Christmas last year and this year. I'm the oldest of three children, my younger brother being seventeen, and my sister being fourteen. Last year, we were learning to get along, fighting like most siblings do, but also finding our balance. A year later, I can't say that we don't still fight, but there is also a lot strong of a bond between the three of us. I find myself grateful for them, grateful to not only have people to fight with, but also people who I can say have had almost the same life as I have. Mind you, we have different experiences, but in reality, we have lived with each other our entire lives. It's even crazier to think that life could have been so different. I don't mean this in a positive way, it could have been different for many reasons.... I love my family, and although we ar ea strong unit, there are sometimes things in life that can sometimes be defining moments in our lives. Things that could make or break us. From my sister having liver failure, to my brother getting hurt in baseball, to a car accident recently that could've had a turn for the worst, my family has been through it all.
I thank God for the blessings I have in my life, and I thank him through the hurt. My faith in him is the only thing that has gotten me through. I can't say that I'm some "crazy religious nut" but I am in love with a God who gave everything for me. A God who doesn't promise life is going to be easy, but that he will be there to get me through it. One who loves me so much, he came and died for me. Now I don't know about you, but finding out that there is someone who loved me that much is incredible. There are days where I find it hard to love myself, yet he tells me I am loved. I wasn't expecting this post to go like this, I never really intend for my posts to go a certain way ever, but I found myself overwhelemed with joy looking back at the year I have had. This year, I went to New York, twice, visited the majority of the east coast, spent 3 weeks in Spain, went to San Francisco, spent my twenty-first in New Orleans, started an internship for an amazing church, graduated college and found myself a new best-friend. Life is so unexpected, this year the Lord has taught me to take it "one step at a time." I find that as I am focusing on this step he will provide everything for the next step. I am not alone, no matter what I feel. He is always there for me. As the ups and downs hit on this rollercoaster, I find myself at rest. I don't know where I'm going to work, or what I will be doing with my degree, but I'm at peace. I'm at peace because I know I don't have to do it all by myself, and that's a wonderful feeling to have. I don't know what's next, but I'm ready to seize it. As 2016 comes to a close, I look back over the year, all the times I almost gave up, and smile. It was because of his love for me, that I was able to move. Knowing that he had a plan for me, (like it says in Jer 29:11) helped me to push just a little harder. As 2017 approaches, I'm finding i'm ready for whatever he has next. Everyday is an Adventure....
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I saw the image of this window online. I found myself staring at it for quite some time. I desired to know why I admired it so much. I realized why I loved it. It reminded me of my dorm at Oxford University in England. Last summer I was able to go on a study aborad to Oxford for 10 days. I stayed at Regent's college, in a dorm room that was all my own. Each floor had a door that would enter into a first door that led to my roomate Jenny's room. The next door then led to the kitchen, that had our own washer and dryer as well. After that there was another door that led to my own room. Inside the room, the first thing you saw, that drew your eyes in was the window. The view was breath taking, truly lovely. It was almost the exact same view as this picture held. It was the other set of dorms, but from the top of them you could see the bright blue sky and the clouds that were so fluffly you could almost sleep on them.
I would come back to my room after a long day of events and just open the window and feel the British air. I loved being able to find myself at peace with the view and where I was at. I could look out the window and know that the sky is the limit. It was the most amazing things to see and to feel. I miss Oxford, I wish I could go back. Since I was a little girl, I craved adventure. I always wanted to be able to travel the world, meet new people, and come back with stories to tell. Now that I'm twenty-one and have been able to see some of the most amazing places, I can't help but desire more. I want to travel, I'm so close to graduating and finally being free. I know I need to start looking for a full-tme job, but I can't see myself stuck in one place for long. The older I get the more my Wanderlust grows.
I've heard it said that The world is a book, and those who don't travel are only on the first page. It is so crazy to think there is still so much world out there that I havent been able to see. I've been to 6 countries, 25 cities, and only have seen 2% of the world. Here I was thinking I was ontop, seeing so much of the world, yet I still have so much to go. My life has been a series of changes, and growing up I never liked it. Now I'm so used to the changes that I'm excited to se what's next. I used to be scared of the future, of the unknown, but God has shown there is nothing to fear because he is with me. The first time I flew out of the country, I was terrified. I was headed on a study abroad for 10 days to Oxford England. I would be sitting in on lectures and hear from some of England's finest speakers, as well as a C.S. Lewis historian. I was scared, but I knew if I didn't go I would regret it for the rest of my life. I went, trusted in God, finally doing something on my own, and I loved it. I have so many memories from that trip that have just brought me so much joy, that even thinking about them brings tears to my eyes. When I was younger, I was terrified of everything. I acted like everything was fine, like I was tough, but I was so scared of the world. I grew up in a very strict Christian home that kept me in this little bubble that was between home and church. My father used to have to recite the verse with me God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love of a sound mind. If he didn't go over that verse with me every night, I wouldn't be able to sleep. Now I'm ready for whatever is next, ready for the next adventure. I am such a freed spirit now that I can't even stay indoor for too long, because I feel boxed in. I finally feel free, freed from fear and barriers. I've tasted freedom and now I'm addicted. Trusting in God has shown me that I don't need to be afraid, everything is going to work out for me in the end, because he has my back. Graduating from college is a big step, and yet I still don't know what I'm going to do after, but God has it all under control. I know it's going to be an amazing new season. I'm ready. |
AuthorReggie is a college gradute with a degree in English. She loves traveling and hopes to one day stay on the battle field for missions. Life is a book and everyday is an adventure, follow her on this journey and see the world through her eyes. Archives
November 2017
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