And The Rain Came

During those awkward middle school years when I wore glasses, and not cool, hipster glasses but those awful wire ones that all insecure middle schoolers are forced to wear, I hated the rain.  It ruined my hair, which was always in a ponytail anyways.  It dripped on my lenses.  And it covered the sidewalk in worms. 

I don't know when I started loving the rain.  Maybe it was when I ditched the glasses for contact lenses.  Or when I stopped caring so much about what I look like.  Or when I stopped being so grossed out by worms . . . nope, just kidding, they still freak me out.  Whatever it was, I have come to love wet weather almost as much as I love the sunshine.

This morning I had a few errands to run in town before my 12 o'clock class and I decided to take advantage of the oddly warm January weather and walk.  I didn't realize it was raining until I stepped outside, but you know what? It didn't matter.  There's something about feeling warm rain hit your face and slide down your cheek.  It's kind of nice to throw caution to the wind and twist your just-dried hair on the top of your head because it's going to get wet anyways.  It's secretly thrilling to not have to worry about puddles because you unknowingly wore boots. It's also a beautiful reminder of Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain and the snow come

down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread

to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty, 

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

The Impossible

Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast"- Alice in Wonderland

The response I get from most people when I tell them about BFA is "Are you excited?"  If you asked me that don't feel bad because the simplest answer is yes.  I am excited, thrilled, ecstatic, overjoyed, and other adjectives I don't have the time or energy to think up.  I have never had to trust God so fully for anything in my life and I know it's going to be a glorious adventure.  

The not so simple answer is that that I am also terrified, overwhelmed, thankful, and humbled.  

Terrified: there is so much uncertainty that comes with this job.  The thought of living in another country is both exhilarating and frightening. The thought of leaving behind all that is comfortable and safe is so nerve-wrakingly (I know that's not a word) exciting. 

Overwhelmed: there's so much I don't know.  How am I going to get a driver's license? How am I going to learn German? The metric system?  Celsius? Euros? And the questions just keep coming.

Thankful:  like I said yesterday, I serve a God who does great things when I'm not even looking.  My God has done great things.

Humbled: who am I that God should be gracious to me? 

And I am constantly reminded that there is no possible way that I can do this.  I'm not smart enough or courageous enough or adventurous enough to be able to pull this off.  So I look at the great impossibility of what I'm about to do and I remember that I serve a God who specializes in the impossible.   I thought about  Mary and the impossible task that God asked her to do and I'm floored by her response. 

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my

Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate

of his servant.

Luke 1:46b-48a

More news

When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. Isaiah 64:3

Ok, so I've been holding on to this one for a little bit but I have more exciting news for you.
Despite fully expecting that, as an English major, I would graduate without a job, God has done awesome things that I did not look for.  I have a job! Not only that but it's at the Black Forest Academy.

So for at least the next two years I will be working serving in Germany as an RA for the boarding students. There's so much that goes into this and so much that I'll be sharing with in the next days and weeks but I don't want to overwhelm you.  It really is going to be a Glorious Adventure. 

The First of Many

Sorry for the delay in posts, my beloved computer decided to stop responding to its power cord- a suicide mission in essence.  As a result it's spent the past couple of days in the hands of professionals.

Anyways, remember when I said I had exciting news?  I'm finally able to share with you the first of many wonderful adventures: my sister is getting married this summer.
That's right folks, A's engaged to the lovely man on the right.

And while I happen to think that the cutie on the left (ahem*me*ahem) makes a way cuter match, I'm willing to concede that A and B make a pretty good pair.
So best wishes to you kids.

Hello and Goodbye

Well friends, it's the beginning of the end. Duh . . duh. . . duh . . .

No, but seriously, as much as I try to deny it, senior year will be over before I'm ready.  And I know that whatever happens in the next couple of months, it will be a grand adventure.  There are a couple things already in the works that I'm excited to tell you about in the weeks and months to come, so stay tuned.

Hold on to your hats kids, it's going to be a wild ride.