This year was the most difficult and most rewarding yet. My favorite memories include the friends and community that have supported me through this season; you have each individually blessed me beyond what my words can say. I am incredibly blessed by the places visited, lessons learned, and growth that happened this year.
Some 2012 Highlights:
· Making Nashville home
· Turning twenty-two surrounded by friends and family
· Attending the Grammy Block Party
· Backpacking through Ireland
· Eating my first In-N-Out Burger
· Being detained in Canada
· Sponsoring my second Compassion Baby
· 155 travel days that included thirty-one states and four countries
· Returning Costa Rica:: to the country that captured my heart nine years ago
· Saying, “yes” to the World Race September 2013 Route One
What I will most remember 2012 for though…as the year a part of my heart was healed.
I have probably said, “I make friends easier with guys” more times than I care to count. My little sister is in a sorority, a concept I make sure people know I don’t understand… living in a house with THAT MANY girls. I learned at a very early age that, “people will always fail you.” It was my mantra for years. I was, at all times, prepared for girls to:: talk behind my back, blow me off, say mean things to me, and you know what I did? …I wrote them off.
I sulked of course, my feelings were hurt, but I didn’t dare give them a second chance to hurt me. Instead, I graduated from high school and then college with my pride rather than lifelong friendships. ((to add insult to injury, I graduated from an SEC school without a ring on a certain finger, so I’m basically on my way to becoming a spinster…))
fast-forward five months to 2012::
In January I had the pleasure of being on tour with some amazing women…women that poured into my life, expecting nothing in return. I was surrounded by prayer, unbelievable support, and encouragement at my lowest; for these things, I am extremely and eternally grateful. But these friendships were just the beginning of my heart’s healing.
I was then introduced to other women who mentored me, women who told me their stories and invited me to live mine alongside them. These women have offered me insight on what’s to come… they have been gentle reminders of Proverbs 31; they have been inspirations.
I can’t do justice to the next group of women, my roommates. Before the Hartford House, I had given up on ever living with girls. My Junior/Senior year at college I lived alone because the stress of caring for roommates was too much. Honestly, had I not been unbelievably desperate for running water I probably wouldn’t have taken my friend K’s offer seriously after hearing, “four girls live in the house.” Desperate was exactly what I needed. These women are exactly what I needed. My words cannot capture the beauty of the women I live with. Each of them, in their own way, broke and then mended a piece of my heart that was closed so many years ago.
Each of these women made the decision to apply to The World Race unbearable. The friendships I have built this year have made Nashville home. You have taught me about grace, you have healed my heart; you have each given me a gift that is worth so much more than you will know. My World Race wouldn't be possible without you. What you have taught me this year about love has walked, sometimes dragged, me back to the foot of the cross. As you support me on The World Race, know that I am supporting you on your journeys! I will be cheering for every tour, every birth, every first and every last.
This will not be goodbye, just see you soon.
I love you all more than In-and-Out!
