What an incredible two weeks this has been! Four months ago I had resigned myself to being gone for a year and that I'd see family and friends next summer. This trip home has been amazing. Each day I woke up thinking I'd awaken from a dream and be back in Belfast, but here I am, sitting in the airport getting ready to head back (via Columbia, S.C. and back to Belfast on Wed/Thur). [Long story short, a friend found out I wasn't coming home for the holidays and blew me away when he called and said "I'm buying you a ticket, when do you want to leave?" I can't ever thank him enough.]It's hard to describe how wonderful these last two weeks have been and the opportunities that the Lord has made available. The first week in South Carolina with my sisters, their husbands, and family's was so sweet. Although my nephews totally wore me out - I have a whole new level of respect for my sister - it was so good to be with them. On top of that, nearly two weeks with my parents has been such a blessing. The older I get and the more people I meet, the more thankful I am for my parents and the fact that they always welcome us home and love spending time with us as their kids. They are incredible in their servants hearts and I'm amazed at their deep thoughtfulness. From dad changing my oil for me to mom picking up some clothes for me that I'd run out of time to get - they're both busy and have plenty to do and yet they chose to do things for me that they knew I hadn't found time to do yet. Incredible!
This holiday I've just been overwhelmed with the realization of the wonderful people God's put in my life and I'm so fortunate to call friends. I think of the friends I've made in Belfast and the huge blessing they are. Then my family and how amazing it is to have a family that loves to spend time with each other. Saturday I took a crazy day-trip to Siloam and spent time with the Beckmans, Janzens, Snyders, Stevensons, Houghs, and Barnes and I was overwhelmed by the amazing people there that I am able to call friends. Then in Little Rock, my time with Josh, Justin, the Hammonds, the Collums, Hornoks, James Barnes, my brother, my grandma, and my aunt was great.
I was sharing with a friend yesterday that I'm so excited to be at a place in life where no matter where the Lord leads for next year, I'm excited about it. Whether it's staying in Belfast, moving to Little Rock, or heading back to Siloam the opportunities and possibilities that lay ahead of me are wonderful and exciting and full of hope! Whether I'm in a PhD program, running a guest house, working at my church, or working a custodial job next year - they are all possibilities I can get excited about. And really, that excitement revolves around these incredible people that I get to know and spend time with. No matter where I might go, there are wonderful people who I love spending time with and respect - it's what makes the future so exciting!
This is an amazing life I've been given, one for which I've found myself, more and more, incredibly grateful for. I don't know if God's favor (in the sense of opportunities and relationships) will rest on me in such a way my entire life - but during this season, I am so thankful for the rich opportunities and friendships He's given me.
[P.S. Sorry, I was kind of in a reflective mood this morning, rather than an update mood. I'm hoping to send out an update the middle of January with how things have been, what this next semester looks like, life in Belfast, and the PhD possibilities that are opening up. So, that should be up in a couple of weeks. ]
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