And the Next Chapter Begins...

In one week, I will be starting college. College brings on a whole lot of change. It kinda feels like my world is being turned upside down. If you know me at all, you know I do not like change, at all! In just the past week, a lot has changed. Three of my friends moved into their dorms, two of them in St. Charles, and the other in Kirksville. Going from seeing my friend’s everyday, to maybe once a week is rough, and I am not liking it! As for my friend who went to Kirksville, will that is the hardest of all. Just knowing that I won’t get to see her for two or three months makes me really sad because we grew really close in the past year.

Another change that I already know I am not going to like is the traffic that I will be siting in everyday. I am impatient and I know that I am going to have a long commute to school.  I am not looking forward to it at all!

College is confusing as well. I go from this class in this building, to that class in that building, but only on this day. What????? College is so much bigger than high school, and I thought I attended a pretty big one. And they say high school is supposed to prepare you for college… well, they were wrong. High school is one building; College is lots of buildings spread across an entire campus. Oh and trying to decide on a major, well that’s a whole different story. You are telling me that I have to decide what I want to do in life and take corresponding classes? Who do you think I am?

In the midst of all of this change and chaos, I will be clinging to this verse:

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

I know that my God knows what He is doing, and my path is already laid out for me! He has carefully planned out my whole life with my best interest in mind. I just have to make sure I am seeking Him and listening to what He tells me to do. He holds all of the answers.

I know that through everything that is going on, God still holds my life in His hands and I have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Truly Blessed

So, last night I was thinking about my life and how blessed I really am. I have so much and I take it for granted most of the time. Here is what crossed my mind last night as I was thinking about how blessed I am:

• I have a great family that I wouldn’t trade for the world!

Sure, we have our ups and downs and we may not be the perfect picture of the “American Dream” but we love each other and thats all that really matters!

• I have an amazing group of friends!

Oh my goodness! I have the best friends a girl could ask for! They always know how to make me laugh and always have great advice when I need it! 

“My girls”, Sam, Angie, Jessica, Alaina, and Jessica, they always keep my on my toes! I never know what is going to happen next!

And, then there’s Miss Sarah Elizabeth Dodge. We have been friends since I was born, no joke! This girl keeps me sane! I go to her with anything I have on my plate and vice versa. Sometimes I just need to talk to get my mind off things. Other times I need her to say a quick prayer for me or whatever is going on at the time. You know it’s really bad when one of us tells the other that we need to move to Mexico, live in a hut, and make baskets. I know for a fact that anytime we start a conversation like this, either one or both of us will leave with a better outlook on whatever the situation is. I love this girl to death and could not live without her!!

• I have an amazing church and an even better church family!

Let me tell you, I could not live without going to church. I just love it. I think part of the reason I love it so much is because of my church family. I love being able to fellowship with other people who love Jesus just as much as I do!

Within my church family there is my Youth Group. There isn’t much to say about them other than just wow. Most of the time I sit with my hand over my eyes shaking my head, but I love them anyway! 

• I have a job that I love!

Everyone tells me that I have a cushy job. And, yes, yes I do, I’ll admit it. I sit in an office for four hours a day and do typical office stuff. I would say out of the majority of teens today, I have one of the best jobs. That is unless you like the fast food industry...

• I am able to pursue a college education!

Attending college is a big deal in today’s society. Me being able to go to a very prestigious and expensive school for about as much as a state school would cost is such a blessing for me!

After realizing all that I have, my heart breaks for those who don’t have what I have. There are so many people out there that don’t have a family, or friends, or a job, or a church, or a relationship with Jesus, or maybe they can’t have a relationship with Jesus because of where they live. I have so much and yet I still want more. I think it’s time for me to sit back and enjoy what I have been blessed with and work to help others more!