Birthdays, memories and everyday life. Or, "25" has been good to me.

            I’ve always heard that birthdays come more quickly as you get older.  It seems like only a little while ago that I was turning 25, enjoying my birthday with deep-dish pizza and a day at the trampoline park surrounded by friends in Wheaton.  As I think through the past year of my life, I can say that “25” was good to me.  

The Wheaton crew that was brave enough to take on the trampolines with me!

            Last March I was finishing up grad school and training for a marathon.  It was stressful at times, as the schedule filled with endless papers, long miles and sweet times of fellowship and social outings, but it was also a time that I felt strong.  My beginning at Wheaton looked very much different than my end.  I started out timid, feeling like an imposter to be at such a prestigious school with people who were much more qualified and intelligent than me.  It wasn’t that I became a genius or developed some new research to change the world while I was there, but I encountered and depended on the Lord in a new way and finally began to see who I was in Christ.

Friends, fellow runners and a sweet support group.

Goal: Run a marathon.  Check.

Wheaton grads

            By the end of my time at Wheaton (both in the school and community), I had grown into a more mature student, runner, hostess and person in general.  I began to realize my gifts of hospitality and encouragement were some that could be used to further the Kingdom and glorify God.  Previously, I downplayed those gifts and made excuses when people complimented my efforts in these areas.  Sure, I can make people laugh and write nice cards and make a mean banana nut muffin, but what good is that in the grand scheme of things?  How “productive” is it to have a dance party or a spontaneous lunch outing with a friend?  I was unable to see how God was using what I assumed to be a quirky and silly personality to bring him glory.

            When I moved home last summer I took time to relax, read some good books and visit several friends that I hadn’t seen in a while.  Then fall followed summer and the lack of schedule (in my mind, lack of purpose) was driving me crazy.  I started to look for opportunities to serve my church as I was waiting on plans with the International Mission Board.  The Good News Club came up at a local elementary school each Thursday, so I got on board even though I was “voluntold” (kindly forced) to lead music and hang out with hyped up 10-year-olds after school.  I really do love it, even if I complain that I cannot sing kiddie songs.  I also made an effort to reconnect and encourage some of the girls that were in my discipleship group as high-school students.  They are all beautiful young women walking college campuses all around North Carolina now.  To be able to meet with them and bring a little encouragement, along with some baked goods and a note from home was a huge blessing.  I like to think they enjoyed it, as I know I did!  

One cool college kid.

Lovely lady at Meredith College

         

Great girl at UNCG

      I had hoped to spend a few months in Peru with the Heath family last fall, but those plans changed as well.  In fact, since I was in town during October, I was able to go attend a play based on C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce” with a fellow Lewis fan and friend.  A few weeks later, there was an outing on the Blue Ridge Parkway with this same friend and then in mid-November I received the most unexpected surprise in the mail.  Jeremy had written me a remarkable letter unlike any I had ever received.  Yes, I said LETTER.  Like snail mail.  Handwritten.  Delivered by the postman.  Those facts alone made it fantastic and sweet, but he was very bold and clear in his intentions, asking if I was willing to pray through the possibility of pursuing ministry in the States and beginning a dating relationship, as opposed to joining the IMB overseas.  (Our whole story is a bit crazy, sweet, weird, funny, confusing, and definitely of God!  But that’s for another blog.)  During this entire process I was walking through decisions about missions, relationships and serving my home church.  The journey had already begun for me to come on staff at church as the “Connections Minister” to bring hospitality and intentionality in the areas of building community and fellowship among believers here.

Beautiful mountains in the fall!

Waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Known to some as the BLP :)

Thanksgiving came and went, then Christmas too and I had just spent the holidays with family, friends and a new boyfriend.  January brought the opportunity for fellowship with old and new friends.  Klamesha came down to visit from her new home in Boston and we were able to explore most of NC from the Biltmore to seeing Wicked in Durham.  It was such a blessing to laugh, talk, pray and fellowship with her!  There were also times when I was able to go to lunch with different ladies from church.  The conversations and laughter that we shared was good for the soul.  That’s what Christian community looks like – walking through daily life together and sharing stories along the way.

First date with the handsome fella.

Biltmore house with Klamesha :)

About to visit the Emerald City.

            February was a time for me to plan and facilitate “Cottage Prayer Meetings” leading up to our church’s Spring Revival.  Each Tuesday and Thursday we met at church or in someone’s home to come together and pray for our church, our community and ourselves.  I was amazed and thankful at how the Lord brought together people of different ages and stages of life to come and pray.  It was wonderful to see His Church coming alive again.  During this time, our church staff was also approached by a local middle school to pray and intercede on their behalf.  What happens at church on Sunday morning should always overflow into the community.

            Now it’s March.  Since I am a glutton for punishment, I’ve committed to run another half-marathon this weekend.  Seems like tradition now!  I want to remember the training and miles from Wheaton last year, the confidence I gain at setting a goal and accomplishing it, and the sweet reality that much like this race, the course of life is before each of us.  We may get blisters and cramps along the way, have to take some walk breaks or reach for a cup of Gatorade to refresh us, but we run with a goal in mind – to see God and enjoy His presence forever, while giving Him glory along the way.  Thankfully, His Holy Spirit power is living inside of me, given by Christ Jesus and through His sacrificial death on the cross.  I don’t run (or live) on my own strength.  This year of 25 was such a lovely roller-coaster of life experiences.  I am expectant and immensely excited for 26.