If you are reading this and if you also have some knowledge about the Bible, you probably think I’m going to quote the famous King David, an astounding man of God.
I was actually thinking of the famous “David after Dentist”, a YouTube video chronicling the thoughts of a child recovering from the effects of nitrous oxide, most notably, “Is this real life??”
This thought has been swirling around in my head pretty much non-stop since May first. Here’s why:
(Feel free to skim this next section and skip to the reflection at the end.)
May 1st: I fill out my final evaluation for student teaching with my cooperating teacher.
May 4th: I finish student teaching, and attend my best friend’s senior recital and my fiance’s junior recital. I cry pretty much nonstop all day.
May 6th: My fiance and I get engagement photos taken.
May 9th: I turn 22. I do not sing the Taylor Swift song because that’s so overdone.
May 11th: I say, “See you later,” to my choir family, and come home to a SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY. My people are the best people in the whole world.
May 13th: I lead worship at my church for the last time, and am surprised by a commissioning prayer by one of my dear teammates. I CRY.
May 15th: I say, “See you later,” to the professor who has been like a mom to me for the last four years after several hours at Starbucks.
May 17th: I have pancakes with my dear friend and role model. We pray for each other and we do not cry, because we will see each other again soon.
May 20th: I graduate from college with high honors, and say, “See you later,” to my best friends and roommates for the last four years. WHATJAGWPJAGRHOI
May 23rd: I am $365 away from being FULLY FUNDED. Like entirely fully funded for a year of missions work and I didn’t have to be there until November 2018. If you were a part of that, either financially or prayerfully, THANK YOU.
May 25th: I pack up and clean my house, and load up my car because on…
May 26th: I say, “See you later,” to the city and people I’ve called home for the last four years.
May 28th/29th: I buy the rest of my gear and clothes for the Race, as well as get my first vaccination.
May 30th: I sing the Taylor Swift song, “22”.
May 31st: I look back at May and think, “Holy cow. Where did May go? Is this real life?????”
Looking back on all that happened in May, I had a thought. This may be real life, but it must be a reality for someone else. I am still 16, and the people I look up to in high school youth group…they’re the ones who are college-graduated, engaged missionaries. Thankfully, God stepped in and showed me that this isn’t just anyone’s reality. It’s mine, and it’s time to embrace it. Everything else in my life has been leading to this point. All of the hardships and struggles, every late-night breakdown and early morning devotional, and here I am, thanks to God’s grace and mercy and provision and faithfulness. He is good, all the time. And I just…wow.
So here I am, ready to take the next step. Training camp is a mere THREE days away, and I could not be more ready (spiritually and mentally – I still have some packing to do). I cannot wait to have a boatload of new experiences with new people, to gain new perspectives, and to have new encounters with our ancient and yet ever-present God. Man.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Please continue to support me prayerfully, especially for breaking down my “type-a must have a plan” nature, to love myself and others where we’re at, to continue pursuing the Lord, and for my fiance and I as we spend the next year of our lives apart. God’s blessings to you all. 🙂
