One year ago

One year ago I had my heart set on returning to the DR for long-term mission.

One year ago I was planning on returning to Austin, TX where I would raise support for 3 months and prepare to depart to the DR on January 1, 2009.

One year ago Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the last place I ever wanted to live.

But what do I know; clearly, the Lord had other plans for my life.

As I sit here in my room, it's September again. September in Philadelphia. I CANNOT believe I have been here for a year. I don't even know where to start with my thoughts on this.

Although as I was living the past year time seemed to stand still, as I look back, it feels like just last week I was preparing for the coldest winter I've felt in a long time. And now, just like that, I find myself preparing for the second coldest winter I've felt in a long time.

Partly because I don't usually let my blog get too personal and partly because I don't even know how I'd articulate it if I did, I won't go into details of the thoughts that race through my head as I site here and think back about the last year; the only thing that makes sense right now is knowing that God's plan may not be my plan, but it's the perfect plan. Amen for that.

It's so easy for me to pick out the negatives of situations, but I don't want to do that. There are so many great things that came out of this past year that don't deserve to be down-played nor forgotten. It's these times that renew my faith in the Lord and the promise that he has something better for my life than I could ever imagine. If I weren't in Philadelphia for the past year, I never would've been able to...

1.) Road trip to Boston with sweet friends Camille, Hayley and Laurin, to see sweet friend Emily.

2.) See my family a lot more than twice a year.

3.) Receive sweet letters.

4.) Meet great friends through work.

(my longest friends in PA!)

5.) Welcome this little one into the world.

6.) Discover the Old Man Cactus at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

7.) Fall in love with space heaters.

8.) See my longest friend in Richmond.

9.) Love on the best dog ever before he passed away.

10.) Drive to Canada.

I never would've been able to hug my sister in person when I found out she's pregnant, have spontaneous lunches with my mom and sister-in-law, meet awesome people at Grace Bible Church, drive to Atlantic City with Kyle for brother/sister bonding time, or tell my parents with a hug that everything happens for a reason. None of this would have been as feasible all the way from Texas and for this I am so very thankful.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Proverbs 16:9