Hi! So, I am supposed to put a little bit about myself here, which always feels weird to me. I guess since I'm the author, I can, in theory, make myself who I want to be… at least on the web… which seems like a lot of pressure, so I'll stick with the facts:
My name is Carrie. I am 28 years old… well, at least for one more month, which I am hoping will go s l o w l y! I was born and raised in Durham, NC, in what I would describe as a wonderful family. My parents have been married for over 30 years. They have four children of whom I am the 2nd. I have an older sister, Kim, who is married to a guy we grew up with named Josh. They gave birth to some of my favorite people in the whole world: my handsome nephew, Tyler, and beautiful nieces, Brooklynn and Quynn. I also have 2 younger brothers, Justin and Josh. Justin is married to Jennifer, who over the years has truly become a sister. And then there are my grandmas, who must be included because they both mean so much to me. One of my grandmothers took me on my very first international trip to Israel. I love that I share that trip with her, as well as a love for history and studying Scripture. My other grandmother lives with my parents and has provided a lifetime of laughter and blessings to those that love her.
I am a nanny to 2 precious children that have taught me more about the character of God than I could have ever imagined when I first started working for their family. Watching them struggle to roll over… teaching them to listen and obey… to leave the things they pull up on for support and walk to my waiting arms… are real life pictures of my own journey of growing up in Christ. I dread leaving them.
As for that journey of growing up in Christ: I trusted in Christ at a young age, but I think that I didn't really understand what it meant to love Him and to follow Him until my mid 20s. I made the typical stupid decisions many young adults make in their 20s, and was horrified to come face to face with the God who chases down His children. For several years I lived with anger, disappointment and shame as I tried to figure out how the heck the God I thought I'd trusted could allow such suffering into my life, even if it was the consequences of my own actions. Slowly, slowly, slowly, through the study of Scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the grace displayed to me through family and friends, I came to know the One I'd trusted in and still find myself growing more and more sure of His goodness and love, the very things I'd doubted, the longer and closer I walk with Him.
I am a case study in freedom. And I am passionate about it. Right now I serve my church by leading a recovery group for women who suffer from past hurts. They, like the two children I keep, have taught me far more than I can say here about who God is in the midst of suffering. I love them and treasure the time I've spent with them on Thursday nights.
These things are the things that fill my life. Beyond that, I am finishing my degree, which I took a break from during my junior year due to the above havoc I brought down around me. If all goes well, I will be done by the summer.
So, that's a little about me…
