I cannot believe it has been nearly 4 months since I have written a blog post, but then again I can! Between finishing my last semester of college and all it entails… 18 page paper, group and individual projects, tests, papers and more finals… plus nannying, plus just living… I haven’t had a spare second to get my thoughts together to portray what is going on inside my head and heart other than what I have to do right now, tomorrow, next week.
But now it has all slowed down. Finals are over, grades are in, graduation is in 2 days! It seems so SURREAL! It has been a LONG 8 YEARS of undergrad! Looking back over the last 8 years, 4 spent in beautiful Athens, GA and the last 4 in Atlanta…. a lot has happened! I have had many different jobs, many different roommates, and have moved nearly ever year! I spent a summer at the beach, developed very close friendships and made memories I will treasure forever! But what I see most when I look back over not only my last 8 years but over my life is the MANY WAYS God has protected me, provided for me and LOVED me.
He put people in my life who were surrogate parents… who loved me like I was their child. They invested in my emotional, physical and spiritual well being. They poured into my life and without these people I would not be walking across the Georgia Dome to receive my Diploma on Saturday! These people were my best friends’ parents, bosses, parents of kids I babysat, teachers, friends of my parents and of course my family.
My mom is truly the most selfless person I know. She puts EVERYONE’S wants and needs before her own. Always. She cares so much about others’ feelings. She has been my biggest fan. She always told me I could do anything I put my mind to and she didn’t freak out when I would tell her my wildest and craziest dreams, including this adventure… even though I could see in her eyes she was frantic and I know in her heart she will miss me so much! And I will miss her so much! I pray every day that God specifically watches over her and protects her when I am gone. She is who I need to come home to.
My mom’s best friend Alyce was also like a mom to me most of my middle and high school years and I call her my angel. She truly gave so much for my family’s well being. She cared about me. She always told me an education is something no one can take away from you and it will open many doors. She poured that truth into my heart and showed me how to be a strong, independent, hardworking woman. I am so thankful for her guidance.
My Aunt Ginny took me in for a summer and let me live with her family at the beach. It was the best summer of my life! She made being a mom to three kids of different personalities, ages, wants, needs, etc. look SO easy! She made my life so laid back that Summer and I want my family to run like her family does! I want to be the mom she is.. healthy, happy, laid back, loving, fun, adventurous… the list could go on!
I was given the most amazing opportunity to be a nanny to 3 awesome kids I love so much for a year and a half whose mother, Wilma was the most amazing woman I have ever met! She had a REAL zest for life! She lit up a room with her smile, laughter, beauty (both inside and out), her love for others, her excitement… her everything! She was truly one of a kind! She taught me so much in the 5 months I knew her before she went to heaven after a long fight with breast cancer. She STILL influences my life DAILY! And her kids do too!
My cousin Sherri who has let me live with her family the last year and half for free… for letting me come in and make their home my own with my loud voice and presence. She has poured so much truth into my heart and life about who I am in Christ, a daughter of The King, and of what I deserve. I am so thankful.
Nancy Clark who makes me laugh by just being herself, not taking herself too seriously, by showing strength in hardship, by trusting in Jesus even when the unimaginable happens, for treating me like one of her kids.
My best friend Alaina, her mom showed strength and dignity through a long fight with breast cancer, who loved her family first, who wasn’t afraid to be herself with her animal prints and convertibles, her spunk, humor, her love for life, her friendship, her drive, her love for kids and reading.
All of these women, and SO MANY MORE, have POURED into MY LIFE! I am SO THANKFUL. I have had many mothers, many angels, who God placed in my life to love and lead me down the right road. Who showed me unconditional love, grace, mercy. Happy Mother’s Day to all of these beautiful women who were all Mothers to me too!
So… one week from graduation, Saturday the 10th, 2 days… I will be meeting my F Squad Family, who I will be traveling the World with for 11 months sharing the news of Jesus while serving and loving! I am beyond EXCITED! I can’t wait to experience ALL that God has in store for us, individually and as a team! I KNOW it will be BIGGER than I can IMAGINE! Ah! That is overwhelming!
Then, roughly 5 weeks after I will be launching in July for my first month, Colombia! I keep telling God how thankful I am he spared me from so much devastation early on in my life, from very poor decisions I have made nearly my whole life and for the blessings He has given me through His love, grace, mercy and by putting people, the Mothers I mentioned earlier and ALL the friendships, who have loved me and given me strength to be Whitney when I didn’t realize I could lean on Jesus for all the strength I need. It is in my weakness He is strong. It is when I need Him, He can be ALL that He, my God, IS. I am SO thankful that God is ALL and MORE that He says He is! And that He is patient with His children, with me. It has been a LONG journey is trusting Jesus, and I know I have a long way to go… but I KNOW HE WILL PROVIDE. HE ALWAYS HAS AND HE ALWAYS WILL. AND I KNOW I GET TO LEAN ON HIM, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF MY FAITH THESE NEXT 13 MONTHS AND ALWAYS FOR PEACE, TRUST, STRENGTH, FAITH, LOVE, LIFE, HAPPINESS, JOY…. AND A WHOLE LOT MORE!
Thank you for going on this exciting journey with me! I am SO thankful for every single one of you who have loved me along the way! I hope you know God has used you TREMENDOUSLY! Every.single.one.of.you.reading.this!!!!
I love y’all!
XOXOXO
Whitney
