hello 2011!

As I sit here and reflect, I feel so blessed. 2010 was great. I can see how my faith grew and strengthened throughout this past year and it's amazing! I was in His will the whole time :) My resolution every year is to fall deeper in love with my Savior and at any cost. Because His ways are perfect! I can honestly say that my resolution came true. I experienced things that I didn't think I could handle, but He knew all along that I was strong enough and He'd be there to walk me through each step. And I love Him for that.

• 2010 started with going back to Cedarville Univ. after a long/great Christmas break at home with my family. I remember that being a sweet time, especially with my mom healing and our lives changing.
• Then, in February I left the United States for the very first time. I went to Knockpatrick, Jamaica to serve at a Deaf school with a group from CU for a week. Usually when you hear from people who have gone on an overseas mission trip, their lives were "changed forever." I remember being there and not feeling that way at all. I knew I was soaking it all in and loving every minute of it, but I knew, realistically, I couldn't just leave everything I was doing and serve in Jamaica. I felt like it wasn't changing who I was. So the question to myself was, "How is this going to affect ME when I go back? Does God have something bigger for me at home?" I remember praying on the plane ride back and thinking, "God, I love the Deaf culture and language, but I'm a Middle Childhood Edu major at Cedarville. The two don't match. But Lord, I'm willing to be anywhere you want me to be and do anything you want me to do." (Oh, and don't forget, I was the girl who thought kids were dumb for changing their major or being undecided. Go figure, God would take the reigns and "show me who's boss!" ha!)
• Sure enough, God didn't have to change who I was. He just helped me dig deep and find it. He gave peace to my heart to leave Cedarville, which btw I thought I would NEVER do, and He encouraged me to pursue my love for Sign Language and the Deaf culture. From March to May, it was rough. The days were up and down. I didn't WANT to leave Cedarville, but I knew He was tugging at my heart and wanting me to pursue other things at home. So I obeyed Him and did just that. I didn't say it was easy, but He gave me enough peace to push through. 
• So I finished out the semester, said goodbye to my friends and the college I always dreamed of going to. While packing up the car, I remember thinking "This is a joyous day and there's no such thing as goodbyes with Christian brothers and sisters." That was all God... I had peace. He gave me the opportunity to attend my childhood-dream-school for a year. I had to look at it like He wasn't taking that away, but giving me new opportunities to serve Him :)
• I had an amazing longgg summer (June to October) and got to experience so much. I interned at our amazing church, served as a camp counselor for 6th grade girls, rejoined the choir, bought a car, and started babysitting full-time. He orchestrated every bit of it. Right down to THE DAY!
• I started school at Cincinnati State in mid-November studying Sign Language Interpreting, and I absolutely love it. Even how my schedule and classes worked out were by His hand.

My verse for 2010: 1 Thess 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for THIS is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
If you're the type that's searching for His will, but you think God isn't revealing it to you, read this verse again. Those 3 things are what He wants from you. Be joyful, pray, and give thanks ALWAYS and He'll lead you through the way :)

Looking back I can't believe how rewarding it's been to obey the Lord. I would say being in His will is the best feeling in life. He's taught me the meaning of contentment, forgiveness, patience, commitment, faithfulness, obedience, and trust. I'm not saying I've mastered these; I know I never will, but He has let me become more familiar with them and I pray I continue to learn them more intimately.

The lyrics that come to mind are from Jeremy Camp's song, Walk by Faith:

Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

[chorus]
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

So bring it on, 2011! :) I can't wait to learn and experience new things, and fall deeper in love with my Savior ...at any cost!