The next step of my journey was this last summer. I was able to go on the trip of a lifetime to England with some family for two weeks. I think two of my favorite things over there, besides all the sight-seeing, were the accents and the London Underground (the tube). A few weeks later was a great week of VBS and the passing of my dad from cancer. The rest of the summer was affected by those events as I worked, saw a mime at my old camp, and went to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
I can't even tell you how excited I was when the time came to go back to college this past fall. I looked forward to seeing all my old friends again and to making new ones. However, at the beginning it was a little rough because of the summer which sometimes showed up throughout the semester. I met several new friends and reconnected with old ones. I went to Life Light, participated in RUSH, did Haunted Hospers again, hung out with some pretty awesome people, was in a One-Act, tried out for a musical, and was in Airband. It was an epic semester.
Along with all these crazy events called life, I've learned and am learning many things and lessons along the way. I've made quite a few mistakes over the course of the last year and a half. Some of these involve interactions with people, some are regrets, and some are life lessons. While I'm not proud of being guilty of these, I'm glad I've learned and grown from them. In the last year and a half I learned: about love languages, that getting help is a good thing and not bad, how to listen, about Grace, second chances, the love of friends, quite a bit about callings in life, about the "sweet side of suffering" and death, how to love the unlovely, that time isn't something to be thrown away but to be used wisely as each day and hour and minute is precious, what makes a true friend, to be thankful for everything in life, that sometimes it's up to you to step up and make a thing happen, "nothing dared, nothing gained", and a whole lot about the heart of God as well as what it means to have faith.
It's like Rafiki from "The Lion King" said,
I also have been discovering more about myself as a child of the King and have grown in my relationship with Christ, learning more and more to trust what He has in store. If He shuts the door that means there is another one waiting to be opened which may not be the path you wanted. God also opens doors as I've discovered. He can put an idea in your head which you may not be able to get out for the life of you until you realize it could be where He's is calling/leading you. A person never knows unless they try. If it's meant to be it will happen and if not, it won't. God's also been slowly revealing to me some gifts I have; one is practical and who knows about the others yet. For me personally, right now it feels as though God is guiding me towards missions, though I feel so very inadequate for the job. Then again, I could be wrong and He could lead me down another path altogether. This had caused some conflict in choosing a major; however, I've decided on majoring in Art/Graphic Design with a minor in Christian Missions. (Though I still like writing and acting and reading.)
I'm super excited for the coming year of 2014 and for all the adventures that lie in wait, both good and bad. As it says in Luke 1:37, "For nothing is impossible with God." With the strength of a dwarf, the courage of a hobbit, the skill of an elf, and the wisdom of a wizard I will face what comes with God and awesome friends by my side. The world better watch out because one determined Daughter of the King is ready for the new year!
