One Year!

I have had this blog written for months, but never got around to posting... better late than never. 

They always say the first year is the hardest. The first year is when you are getting your feet wet and trying to stay above water. The first year is when you are labeled “the new girl” or the one that looks confused in a crowd of people. Ah, the first year.

I remember my first day. I made sure I got up extra early to be ready and out the door. Of course, you can’t be late on your first day! I sat in my car waiting for the clock to hit a little before 8:30am so I could walk in right on the minute. I’m telling you I was WAY early. I walked in the office to find new faces and new surroundings. I quickly heard, “oh you must be the new girl.” Well of course I am, doesn’t my freshly pressed suit, laptop bag and matching Vera Bradly lunchbox just scream, “I’m new?” Of course it did.

I remember going home that night and wrapping my mind around the day I had just experienced. It was a mixed feeling. I had just completed day 1 of my job and I knew that this wasn’t an internship, it was real life.  You know the real life you have dreamed about for years and all you can think about in college is the job after you graduate. I was living this. I was in that moment.

Right after I graduated from college I was searching. I was searching for a job in a place I could make my home. I was searching for a church family. I was searching for people my age to build me up and encourage me. I was searching hard. 

If someone would have told me when I moved about the year ahead of me, I probably would have laughed at them. What a fun crazy year it has been. It has been a roller-coaster, but the best roller-coaster of life.

Blessed to know these ladies 

The group celebrating April birthdays

Red Team domination in Field Day

Amazing group of Ladies 

Blessed to know these ladies 

Finally Football

Finally. Finally. Finally. It seems the wait gets longer and longer each year.

Lady & Gentlemen, College Football has arrived!!

It is more than a game, it is tradition for our family!

A little rain will not stop us

My favorites 

Nothing warms my heart more than Homecoming

Saturday. Saturday. Saturday

Typical dancing to the Red Coats

Saturday on North Campus

Always have to shoot to get a Christmas card picture

Saturday in Athens, so happy to see you back!

Lessons in Trust

Growing up we all heard the verse, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6

We all hear, "just trust, He will lead you", but can we really fully trust? 

A couple of weeks ago, I crossed something off my bucket list. Well, I technically don't really have one, but if I did it would be on there. I put my big girl pants on and went whitewater rafting. When I told my family what I was doing, I was greeted with a "seriously" and "can we get a video?" 

I have to say, it was a blast and I managed to stay in the boat the entire time. My worst fear was falling out. I was determined to do whatever it took to stay in the boat. I had my plan set, if I felt like I was going to fall out, I was going to fall inward. I wasn’t letting any Beaver sharks or rapids get me. 

After the weekend was over I got to thinking, I completely put my trust in our guide. I listened to everything she said and did not question anything. Whatever the command she said, I followed her. 

Why can I trust someone I have no connection with but struggle in completely trusting our God? Don't get me wrong I trust Him, but when it comes to completely trusting and not questioning, I can't say that I don't think twice. 

Following a guide who I have no connection with really got me thinking about trusting our God. Putting complete trust in Him to guide my life… it is easier said than done. It is also easy to tell others to trust, but do I trust completely? Or is that just my standard answer?

I remember when I was in the stage of looking for a job. I would trust in some areas, but not others. I could not let go of all control. I had this life I had dreamed about and I wanted to control it. I told myself I was trusting, but was I really? When I finally let go of my I-want-to-control-everything attitude, He lead me right where I needed to me. I had to trust in moving, I had to trust in a new town, I had to trust that it was the right step.

Then I remembered my planner from my senior year, across the top was the word trust. I carried this around with me 24/7. It was my life. For some reason I was not into putting dates into my phone, instead I color coded my planner. But needless to say I opened it pretty much every hour. So why did I write trust on my planner? Because I needed to be reminded of God’s promise. I was having issues of trusting with life after college, life during college and life at the moment. I was searching and trying to trust, but could not completely give it up.

Trust has always been something I have struggled with. Although I have told myself I was completely fine.

So here to trusting completely and remembering these friendly reminders to keep trusting.