I can honestly say right now that I do not have a clue what this upcoming year is going to hold, but I have peace about it that could only come through Christ. I haven't written in over a month and so tonight as I sit in my bed in the comforts of my home, I am going to share a bit from my heart. I left for school a little over 3 weeks ago to be an orientation and welcome week leader. I thought that I was just going to serve and to love on some freshman, and to get to spend time investing in their lives, but little did I know that The Lord had something completely different in store for me and for my life that I cannot even comprehend right now, but I know that when I am supposed to know He will guide and direct my steps and open up my eyes and heart for what He wants to teach me.
5 days before I left to begin my second year at The Newman, I had to go to the dr. and get some blood work done because I had been having some headaches and a few other problems and so the dr. wanted to do some blood work to make sure everything was okay. I then left for school on a Monday to begin working on the Orientation and Welcome Week staff. I got to do many new things such as White Water Rafting, and visiting just about every Wal-Mart in a 30 mile radius of C-N to purchase things for Orientaion. During that week before the freshman came, I met so many beautiful people that I didn't know, and The Lord really and truly blessed my heart when He placed those people in my life. Thursday afternoon came and I got a call from the dr. with the results of my blood work. She said that nothing serious was wrong but that she wanted me to see an endocrinologist and get some more tests done. I said okay, and got off the phone very apprehensive. I know The Lord is in control but sometimes it's just a little scary to have to go back to another dr. and get more tests done. The freshmen then came on Friday and I had a blast getting to know my group! They were all just a group of unique individuals and all of them were SOOO sweet! Monday morning, I got in my car like every other morning and headed towards the Campus Ministries House where I had a meeting. On my way there though, I did something that was not so smart. I ran a stop sign and after the sound of a car blowing it's horn, hit a firetruck and totalled my car. As first I was just in a sense of shock and I didn't know what to do. I called my friend Cassie who was at the meeting I was supposed to be at and her, Lexi, Chad, and Mrs. Nenette came and stayed with me through it all. As many of you know, I hate to cry in front of people but as soon as I saw the 4 of them come close to me, I broke down bawling and crying. It was probaly the scariest time of my life because I didn't know what was going on, my parents weren't there and I knew that I had orientation responsibilities soon after. I think right at that moment though, it was reaffirmed that I was where I was supposed to be because I had an amazing family there to support me! Cassie then took me to the dr. where I got my head checked out and a head ct scan done to make sure I didn't have any damage to my head where I broke my rearview mirror off with my head. That day continued with my beautiful friend Michelle walking me back to the dorm to make sure that I was okay, and then my day ended with me sleeping with my friends Andrea an Lauren so that they could make sure I was okay through the night. The next morning started off really well and the day was great. We even got shook up a little bit by the earthquake that we felt in Andrea's room. My week continued with this continual sense that I was being called to move dorms. I didn't understand it and still don't, but I am confident that The Lord will show me in His timing. So I moved dorms and am now living with my friend KB! Through the course of the past week, I also applied for and got a job at a daycare in Morristown where I will be working 15 hours a week.
I think these past couple of weeks have taught me several lessons:
1. It is okay to lean on and to get help from people who love you.. as Dr. Brummett would say, "Self-care is not selfish"
2. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness
3. Doing too much is not healthy and causes unneeded stress
4. You can't do everything
5. Just when you think everything is perfect, God may change things up
6. Trusting God is an act of Obedience
7. It's okay to say no
8. All Good things come from God
9. God is bigger than our biggest fears
10. God doesn't give us more than we can handle
Friends, sorry for my venting! I just wanted to catch you all up on my life and tell you a little about this year for me. The Lord has really taught me a huge lesson in giving up control. Having control is a huge issue for me, but although my plans and God's plans are seeming to not connect, I'm okay with that and I am willing to look towards God to see His plans unfold rather than looking into my own selfish heart to do the things that I want to do.
