Woah! Wild to realize that this will be my last blog (but also I feel like if I’ve learned anything it’s that I can never use these types of definitive statements when it comes to God. He really works in some mysterious ways sometimes that’s for sure. so let’s say I’m pretty positive this will be the last). Wild to think back to the last year and a half of my life and the beautiful journey of growth and freedom that it’s been. It’s in the stretching and sometimes crushing and pressing that we are refined, grown, and made more like Him. and I pray more than anything that the lessons I’ve learned, the freedom I’ve stepped into, and the foundation I’ve created on Him will remain fixed no matter what comfort or discomfort the next seasons hold. At the end of the day, it’s all about Him. The truth of who He is and what He’s done and I pray that these truths are what remain tattoed on my life and heart forever. It’s less about my experience and more about the truth of who He is, always has been, and always will be.
I am forever thankful for the opportunities I’ve been gifted with over the last years, and even more grateful for the people who have walked alongside me through it all. To those who have encouraged me, prayed for me, supported me, and loved me through it all: thank you. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last year and a half, it’s the fact that God has gifted me with such an incredible and strong home team. I’m blessed with such a wonderful community here at home and it’s a joy to get to enter back into this space of time tested and proved friendships and family.
The last year and a half have held way too many significant faces and moments to ever be able to capture in words. Some incredibly beautiful and some deeply challenging. Reflecting on these days, I’m realizing I experienced a lot of life. A lot of joys. A lot of sorrows. A lot of the realities of what life in this world actually means for people. It feels like many years worth of experiences jammed into such a short time, and that’s a beautiful yet honestly overwhelming thing. As I sift and sort through all that I’ve learned and experienced in the weeks, months, and even years to come, I am praying that He would lead and guide me to keep close the things that should influence and steer me forever and help me to know what can and should be laid aside. It’s a weird and sort of messy process but He’s doing things in it and in me.
I am deeply grateful for each place I’ve called and made a home. Each bed (or lack of bed) that I’ve laid my head. Each table I’ve sat around. Every meal I’ve eaten (even the dog rip). Each church I’ve worshipped within. Each city street where my feet got to wander. Every coffee shop with semi-decent wifi and every village without a bar of connection. Each starry night, or beautiful sunset, or mountain view right outside the window. Every holiday somewhere new. I’m thankful for the weird and hard and awkward and beautiful and sweet experiences because each one grew me tremendously and I’m realizing that each one is something I now long to know again.
I’m grateful for every student I got to (hopefully) teach some English. Every generous and kind stranger. Each man and woman who I was able to pray for, share with, or hear their story. Every ministry host on fire for Him and for His people. The community that constantly surrounded me every moment of every day. The moments of laughter and tears and fun and hard and growth that came from each of these relationships. My teams and leaders and people that I got to be the church beside. I’ve learned more from each of these relationships than any other experience so far, and even in the painful goodbyes that come from loving hard, I’ve learned that it’s always always worth it to know and love someone.
And most importantly, I’m thankful for The One whos friendship and nearness impacted me the most. He’s the reason for it all actually. And He’s the steady that I’ve found in the sometimes chaos that life is. And I’m grateful that He meets me here every single time.
I think so much of this last year and a half of life was about learning how to trust and obey Him and actually understand and stand on who He is and who I am in Him. That’s really important I’ve realized! And though that’s still a struggle at times and probably always will be in different ways as I continue to learn and grow, I am so thankful for this past season and so excited to step into this next season at UT (hook em) with an even more solid foundation of truth and trust in Him.
So, thank you to everyone who has followed my journey and read my blogs and supported me so well. It really has meant so much! I’m excited for what’s to come! Bittersweet to close this season but also so grateful to be able to seal it with thanksgiving and joy for what it’s held and how I’ve grown and who He”s always been through it all!
