With the faith of a mustard ... mountain.

Faith is a crazy thing. It makes you do crazy things. Faith requires courage. Faith requires trust. Faith requires putting aside all your fears and doing it anyway.

It's been 8 months since I moved out here. So much has happened since then I feel like it might as well be a year already! Yet time has flown by and I'm sitting here in my new room, on my new bed, with my new car in the driveway, and my new job waiting for my arrival in the morning.

10 months ago, as I sat on the picnic table listening to the gentle waves of the lake lap up on the shore, God asked "Do you trust me?" As soon as I said "Yes" I knew my life would forever change.  And so it has.

Terrified would be a great word to describe me at that time. Excited also would have worked. Freaked-out, insecure, neurotic, emotional, all were spot-on adjectives, as well.
Just ask my Daniella, who talked me down from my many melt-downs. Or my mom, who said "I knew" before I even told her. Or my sister, who, at 10 years my junior, was ironically the one who held it all together as I told her the news - I, in turn, did not, as I was a blubbering mess. Or my best friend, who believed in me even though it meant 1500 miles between us. Or my camp friends, who when I said "It's a God thing" - they understood and prayed for me.

So with $800 in my pocket, a car that kept going on too much oil and just enough prayer, and family who so graciously hosted me...I moved out here. Without a for sure job. With way too many student loans. And so with everything I could fit in a '98 dodge neon packed in my trunk and backseat, my girl Ruth and I made the 1,500 mile trek,  mid-summer through the desert sans air-conditioning. (Talk about crazy, right?)

The next 5 months would prove to be some of the hardest months of my life yet. 5 months of working 3 jobs, weird hours, not enough hours, yet still somehow barely smidging out enough to pay most of my bills at the time. It wasn't easy. It wasn't optimal, but it worked for the time.

During this time, I ended up as a "mommy's helper"  for a family nearby. That family quickly became like another family, and I couldn't wait to get there Wednesday and Friday mornings.
I was also going through a transition, where it was simply best to find another housing situation. So for the month of February, I lived in another town nearby, with the kiddo's grandparents, whom they call "Bestemamma and Bestepapa" - Norwegian for Grandma and Grandpa. Had I not ended up working for this family, I would have never been able to stay with them! And what a blessing that was. Such Godly people, full of wisdom to help me heal and cope with the changes. I was blessed with "spa" (hot tub) nights with bestemamma, listening to her stories of God's faithfulness in her own life, and so much love from them.
During this same time-frame, I also ended up getting a full-time job in the same town I was living in for February! So while I was there, I was working in the same town.

Then, not even a full month into my job, the announcement was made that because of certain circumstances in the company, layoffs would be happening.
Not even two full days earlier, I had gotten a call from a company I had put in my resume for months before, saying they'd kept me on file and would like me to interview. THAT company is in Camarillo, is way more suited towards my career field than the previous job, and actually pays better than the job I had before. I ended up getting that job!

At that same time frame, I ended up moving into a house with two, soon to be 3 other girls in Camarillo. So my first week in Camarillo, I'm just now starting this amazing job in the same town.

Now back up to December. My crazy story with Mary Kay began back in November, when I was running dangerously low of my prescribed lotion for my dry skin on my face. Through a series of happenings, I ended up buying what is now I call my "life-changing purchase." It was a $30 tub of Mary' Kay's "Intense Moisturizing Cream." Anyone who has ever gotten a prescription for anything knows that $30 will barely get you into see the doctor...IF you have a good insurance plan, which at the time, I did not. So the fact I could pay $30 for a product that WORKS LIKE A MIRACLE...well, I was astounded!
Not long after that, I took another leap of faith and purchased my starter kit to also become a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. It's so exciting to look back and visually see the product that changed my face and would eventually change my life.

I could go into greater detail about how Mary Kay has changed my life. So much detail, in fact, it would make this blog way too long. But if you've ever wondered what it'd be like to
a) Work from home and make legitimate awesome money - all on your own time and schedule (!)
c) Work a job where you get to go and have girl time, do make up and chat about life
d) Work in an environment where you are encouraged and supported probably more than you've ever been in any other job...ever...times a million
e) and get LOADS of AMAZING prizes, also including the famous Mary Kay cars!!!!

You need to talk to me. Call me, message me, whatever, but even if you're just curious as to what I do and what career paths you can make it...or even are just curious about trying the product, just talk to me! I'd love to tell you about it!

So, 8 months later, I'm sitting in my room staying up way too late just to get the point across to you that, well, GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!

It's amazing to see how God's hand was in each and every step of the way. And all it took was faith the size of a mustard...well, mountain, because that's how much faith I felt I needed. ;-)

But really. It's incredible when you are following God's call, and though it seems crazy to everyone, even you (neh, ESPECIALLY you) HE WILL PROVIDE A WAY!


Now moving forward, it's easy to still be stuck in my old ways of hesitation, of looking back, of being to scared....but I'm constantly reminded of what great things can happen if I have the faith to follow, if I have the faith to just put one foot in front of the other, if I have the faith to leap, trusting that I will land somewhere.

And now it's great because I have friends who see my story and how God has provided and now that's encouraging them to take the leap of faith they believe they need to take.


So now, dear friends and family...ask what risks God is asking you to take right now. It may just be as simple as getting out of your house and talking to your neighbor, bringing them a plate of cookies. For others it's quitting their day job to pursue their passions, or a cross-country move. Have faith. Take a leap. Try it. You'd be SO surprised about how God makes doors out of brick walls!

Just another day.

"Yes, Hannah it is." I say that to myself every once in a while.

First, before I start getting into the bulk of this post, I have to say:
I am now the new dance teacher at Twinkle Toes dance studio in Camarillo!!! This was the job I truly came out here for. Ever since my first phone conversation with the owner, it was like I felt that would be the perfect place for me! I will be teaching 5 dance classes all school-year round, then add to it another 5 for the first 6 weeks as I will be filling in for a teacher on maternity leave. 

God has BLESSED me, truly, and I couldn't be more excited that I will be teaching again.

I also got another job as a gymnastics coach! (Whooda thunk?) I will be working at Coach Patty's School of Gymnastics, also in Camarillo. Or, should I say, I have ALREADY been working there! I start teaching my own class (the level 1 and 2 classes) THIS UPCOMING THURSDAY! 

So, to continue on "Travel day 3"...well, there's not much to say. We left early in the am, we drove to Vegas where I got some Caribou, a welcome bit of home amidst the travel. We traveled through the desert. We made it to California. We made it to Barstow. We made it to Rancho Cucamunga, which, if you ask me, is a pretty ridiculously awesome sounding name for a town. We met up with Ruth's friends Kyle & Annie and their 3-month old son Micah for In-n-Out. We wandered a mall with air conditioning. Then we made our way to the VC! (also known as ventura county)

Let's see....

Tuesday, Ruth and I had a relaxing day. I took her to Element, and being as that she is such a coffee addict, I presumed that would be necessary. She approved. I told her that was a good thing, "because her approving of Element is similar to approving a boyfriend...and, well, Element is the closest thing I have to a boyfriend." She laughed. I did not. (Ok, yeah, I totally did.)

After wandering around the Camarillo Outlets for a while, we came back and I got ready for my interview at the dance studio...which, basically, turned out to not even be an interview. She basically said "I just had this feeling that you were such a perfect fit for our studio, and if you'd like it, the job is yours." She had interviewed 3 other girls for the position. And she held off on giving them any word because she was waiting for me. How. Amazing?!

Wednesday was a fun early afternoon as I took Ruth to the Ventura Pier. It was there I saw my first dolphin in 2 years, and also a seal that was fairly close to shore. It's always fun spotting wildlife. Especially when it's not there in South Dakota. (I often get bored of "Deer!" or "Prairie Dog!")

Then after my interview for the Coaching position at the gymnastics gym (which, again, was not even an interview, but more or less "We're going to create classes for you." Awesome!) we headed to West Hollywood to meet up with another one of Ruth's friends. We stopped by a coffee shop. I had my first iced vanilla chai. Mainly because Ruth and Chelsea talked me into it.
We ate food, Ruth and Melanie were able to catch up.

Thursday was Ruth's last day here! (insert bawling emoticon and sound effect here.)  After a wonderful late morning/early afternoon wandering the Santa Monica promenade and pier, I dropped her off at the airport. And in sure-to-Ruth fashion, SOMETHING had to go wrong with her flight. Good news? It was only a slight delay. :-P

Which brings me to today! FRIDAY! It's crazy how I've been out here not even 5 days and I'm already working. Have I mentioned how AMAZING my God is!? Yup, pretty sure downright amazing.

Other than the couple hours of work I had today though, I had a nice lunch date with my Critter, and then proceeded to go back home and crash. And I crashed HARD. I don't think I realized just how exhausted I was until I sat down today.

So as for life happenings, that pretty much brings you up to speed.

I was telling Critter this earlier today, but my life feels just like normal. Which is weird. Essentially, it's weird that this doesn't feel weird.

I have a feeling that will change in another month or two, when I'll be expecting the temps to start to drop and the leaves start to turn color. But it feels good knowing that I am where God means for me to be, and that he has taken care of me thus far. I have faith and confidence that he will continue to do amazing things here!

Traveling Day 2

What can you post about a 13 hour drive?

We left Buffalo, WY around 6:30 am. Kim, again, was warm and gracious, and was up early even before us. Again, I was taken aback by the beauty of the Big Horns right out the living room window, and the sunrise that shined against it. The top photo is the exact view from their living room window.

We proceeded to travel through the state to close to the border. After a gas and lunch break, we walked around the station a few times to stretch our legs and hopped back in the car for yet another drive.

And then, UTAH!

then...Salt Lake City! On the south side of the city we spotted the first In-n-Out of the trip! That was one of those moments you think to yourself "Perhaps we ARE getting closer!" :-)

After a quick stop in a suburb of Provo, we had a long last 4 hours to our hotel in St. George, Utah...

After checking in to our hotel, we needed the hot tub and pool! Also, it is SO wonderful to see palm trees again!

Ruth and I both agreed that though today's day was the longest drive, it felt shorter than yesterday! We didn't spend very much time stopped at any one place. With the exception of gas stops (Yes, dad, I have continued to check my car fluids and they are all doing well!) and our hour-long lunch break, it's been a rather uneventful trip. The mountains are beautiful, the driving requires more brain power than the midwest (where the goal is to keep your foot on the gas and the wheel straight), and today we were blessed with MORE clouds and COOLER temps! Thank you so much for praying...God has heard them and has given us such safe and comfortable passage (though there are always moments you wiggle in your seat as something starts to ache.)

Tomorrow is our last day of travel! Hooray!
We will be leaving here in the EARLY morning (probably around or before the 6 am mark), will be making a short pit-stop in Las Vegas so I can get my 'last' Caribou (Who knew they had one in Vegas!?) Then we will travel to Ontario, CA and meet up with one of Ruth's friends from college and her newborn son! By evening, we'll be in the Ventura area!!!!!  (No, it still hasn't sunk in yet.)

Please continue to pray for safe travels, cool (or at least endurable) temps and for our health!

Traveling Day 1

I am completely wiped and ready for bed, so this post shall be kept short.

Day 1:
5:30 am wake up. (My alarm was set for 6 am. Apparently my body was ready before my brain.)
finish packing.
8:30 am - pick up Ruth.

Goal? Drive.
So that's precisely what we did.

The heat was bearable! Thank you to all who have prayed! Though I saw temps as high as 94, we were able to keep relatively cool, or if not cool, then at least at an endurable warmish temp. I was continually grateful I splurged 97 cents at walmart for the spray/mist bottle. Because oh what wonders that does!

After what seemed like we were driving for hours (well, really, we were) we finally made it to Spearfish, SD, right at the western border. Can I just say it was LOVELY to see hills! After a landscape of sunflower fields, hay fields, and corn fields, it was a welcome sight.

We continued on our way through Wyoming, and soon we were closing in on Buffalo. After a brief reprieve from the glaring sun by way of clouds and a short blast of rain, we landed at our destination. As we were coming into town, the rain clouds were just lit so perfectly where the mountains in the back were lit by the sun while the hills in front of us were dark and crisp. It was one of thee single most glorious sights I have ever seen. Our God is a beautiful painter, and his paintings change constantly. It was something to see.

The evening was a quiet one spent with Jenna's mom, Kim. I am forever grateful for her hospitality, not only this time, but the previous times I've been here. After a delicious dinner, we toured the town as Ruth and Kim talked coffee and teaching. We were treated to ice cream at a cute local ice cream shop and spent the rest of the night watching Olympics coverage. (Anybody else realize how terrifying it is when the men's gymnasts do the high bar?)

Tonight we will crash hard, but the early morning comes so soon. We are leaving here around 6 am so we can spend more time avoiding the heat that is supposed to come tomorrow. Tomorrow is our longest day of driving, with a total of nearly 13 hours drive time (not including stops.)

Again, please pray God's protection around us, that the heat will remain bearable, and preferably comfortable, and that there will be no issues with our travel!

Thank you all so much!

Today. I will remember today.

Packing up my life in boxes, laundry baskets, luggage.
Last dinner with the family together.
Still leaving so much of my "stuff" here.
The car is stuffed, but still room for some maneuvering around where we can sleep in the backseat.
Car shades and spray bottles bought, water bottles in the freezer in attempts at freezing them before our trip all to keep cool.
Car is fueled up, washed and waxed, has all the proper amounts of fluids.

But beyond all of the "last day" things, I will remember the people, the relationships.

Tonight some close friends, mentors and my family gathered for ice cream (and ice cream cake leftover from my birthday). And tonight was closed by praying over me.

As you grow older, you realize just how important these people are in your life. These people God places in your life, who understand what it means to follow God's call. Sometimes God asks us to trust him and have complete faith in him. And though it may seem crazy to the rest of the world, we understand that as long as you're following God's call, however crazy it may seem, it's what's right and what's best.

And to hear these people who have invested in my life asking for God's protection, his grace, his blessings upon my journey, upon my life...

there are no words. I like to pride myself on being able to write. Sometimes witty, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes boring....but tonight there are no words to describe how truly blessed I have been in my life.

So whether you were there tonight, or were there in spirit, or have been in any way, shape, or form a part of my journey, I thank you.

It is not unnoticed, your prayers and your guidance. It is not unnoticed, your love and your time. It is not unnoticed, your support, both spiritually and sometimes financially.

It is not unnoticed by me and it is not unnoticed by God. I pray that God would bless you as richly more than you have blessed me.

Tomorrow I leave. I leave for the great unknown. I take a step forward, not quite certain of precisely where my feet will land. I take a leap, in complete faith that my Lord will catch me.

‎"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began,Now far ahead the Road has gone,And I must follow if I can...Pursuing it with eager feet,Until it joins some larger wayWhere many path and errands meet.And whither then? I cannot say."_Bilbo Baggins - The Old Walking Song (JRR Tolkien)

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future."

36 Hours

As of right now, I have approximately 36 hours left here.
First things first: I have yet another prayer request! (This is going to happen a lot, folks...)
As we were getting new tires put on Princess Izzy, the mechanics also attempted to get my a/c going again. They discovered the a/c system is pretty much shot. So Ruth and I will be traveling for three days in rather extreme temps with no a/c. Is it doable? Yes. Is it comfortable? No.
Pray that either God would bring a miraculous cold front through while we travel (He can do that!) or that Ruth and I would remain cool and not suffer any health problems because of the heat. (Pray against heat exhaustion or stroke.) 

(The forecasted temps for our trip.)




Ok, moving on:

My thoughts as of late have been full of excitement and preparations. But throughout the days, there are scattered moments of "This is my last _____" or "I don't have very much left of _____."

Today I had my last Caribou.
Partly because it was chilly enough today (and by chilly, I mean in the mid-70s.) But partly because I just needed a good vanilla chai.

(Caribou makes a Happy Hannah. Knowing it's my last 'bou for a long while? Sad Hannah.)

Tomorrow will be my last day here.
I have never been one for goodbye's. I've had to make all too many of them in my life, and none of them are easy. But this one? This one will most definitely top all the others.
I will be leaving my family, my best friend, all here in Watertown. I'll be leaving more family and close friends from the Midwest. And no matter how I slice it, no amount of time can ever be "enough" before I leave. If I left 6 months from now, I still wouldn't be ready to leave them.

If I had moved to (dare I say it?!) Wisconsin, I would still be within driving distance of family and friends. Or even Illinois. Or even Iowa. (But who really wants to live in Iowa?)
But God pointed me as far west as the country will allow, and close enough to the farthest south the country will allow, which is simply too far for a weekend get-away.

It's funny. People always say "Be careful what you wish for." Not so long ago, I was wishing for adventure. Now that it's here, though I'm excited to go, I'm apprehensive to take that first step.

Yet as much as I know I am going to miss my friends and family here (and already am starting to, however ridiculous that sounds, since my family is currently one floor beneath me), I am ready to start my journey that God has laid before me.

Luke 5:11
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

It makes no sense. But that's why it makes perfect sense.

Well, dear friends.
I never expected to be writing from this blog again. But here I am, less than a couple weeks shy of two years since my last day of my summer in California.

Let's start with the news.
(If I haven't contacted you by now, I am truly and deeply sorry. I think this news is best delivered at best over a phone conversation, and I wish I had the time to spend chatting at length with all of you. But reality beckons, and again, I am truly sorry if you feel slighted in any way. I promise it wasn't intentional.)
I am moving back to California! (Ventura County, specifically.) In the past month and a half, I have experienced a ridiculous roller-coaster of emotions and thoughts. Typically they go from a panic attack of sorts to crying to peace about the situation, to excitement about what's to come, and then back to freaking out...and so it went around and around and around again.

So...two years later. So much has happened in these two years. Too much, really.
If you were to have asked me if I'd be returning to the golden coast (as a resident)...up until about a month and a half ago, I would have probably responded something akin to this:
"I won't deny I've thought about it. I think it'd be fun. I miss California. But in the end, Minnesota is home."
And to a high degree, that is certainly true.
I believe Minnesota will always be my true home. The lakes, the trees, the cities, Twins & Vikings games, Northwestern just right down the road, Grandparents' farm just north a short drive, Camp (my other home), white Christmases, blizzards and 100 degree temps with crazy humidity that makes my hair frizz out like Monica in Barbados (a Friends reference, for those who couldn't quite get that)....and friends and family.

Then about a year ago, almost to the day, I moved to Watertown, SD.

This past year I've spent struggling to be content. In one sense, I knew I didn't see myself in Watertown forever. But for the time, it just seemed like it'd still be a few years. My family, at least for the time being, is here. My best friend was lucky enough to get a job at the Christian School here. (ok, luck had NOTHING to do with it, because she is one of the best teachers...ever...) And throughout the past year, I've developed wonderful friendships with some fantastic ladies.
Yet the past year, I've had this growing sense of discontentment...I just kept thinking "There's gotta be more to life than this." I felt stuck.

It's always interesting looking back on things. Because looking back, now, I realized that God has his hand in this the whole time. He put that feeling of discontentment in my heart, and didn't take it away as I prayed for contentment. It didn't make any sense to me. And then...well, to put things simply, things just came crashing down, and I was left to make a decision about my future.

And to make a long story short (I feel like I've been saying that so much lately, but really, the full story would be WAY too long)...I just felt like God was calling me back to Cali.

It made no sense to me. With a poor economy, high cost of living, and student loan payments, moving to California just seemed like a fool's choice. Then you add in the mix that my whole life has been spent in the midwest. It's everything I've ever known and I'd be leaving that. Oh, sure, I had those 11 amazing weeks during the summer of 2010. It was truly a dream...a dream I lived. But I think part of what allowed me to be so comfortable there was that I knew I'd be coming back home. All the little things I missed during my time away...I knew I'd experience them again. Yet, this time, I recognized that moving to California would be a completely new experience.

But all of the "excuses" I made in my head for me to NOT move to California all became a moot point when God pointed me west.

As I sat on the picnic table next to the lake, soaking in any scripture I could find on what my heart was going through, God just whispered to me, "Do you Trust me?"
And it was as if I replied "Yeah, of course." And he just responded..."No...do you REALLY trust me?" And so in my journal, I wrote two letters..."LA"...and with confidence, I put a big circle around it. And thus begins my journey. 

There have been many moments in the past month and a half where I am hit with this sense of "You're crazy, Hannah. This makes no sense, and this is completely insane." It's those moments I panic...those moments I completely break down, when the wind is knocked out of me, and I can't catch my breath. Sometimes I do what's best and go back to God's word, reassuring me that sometimes one just has to take a very large step of faith. That reassurance comes every time I question my decision...it always comes back to the truth that God is in fact calling me back out to California.

Then there are those other moments during a meltdown...those moments that I need the reassurance from a friend. Seriously...if you've been one of those friends in the past month and half, I can't thank you enough. Thank you for just quietly waiting while I try to compose myself enough to speak. Thank you for understanding and always guiding me back to God, reassuring me that it's all not as crazy as it seems, and that God will provide everything I need. I have the best friends. And I don't say that lightly.

So, you ask...what does life look like for me?
At this moment, I have very few definitive answers.
If all travel goes well, my friend Ruth and I will be pulling into Ventura County really late Monday July 30th. I have a couple interviews for jobs the following day, and I'm hoping they come through for me. As for housing, I will be living with my aunt and uncle until I can establish myself and get an apartment. 

Other than that, I can tell you that I cannot WAIT to be back into life at Camarillo EVFree and Emmaus, and seeing and spending time with all of the amazing people I have met from there and any others I have yet to meet.
I can tell you that I will most likely be soaking up as much of the ocean as I can. Because, let's be honest...I love the beach. And what's life on the Golden Coast without time at the ocean?
I can tell you that dance will still remain a part of my life, in some fashion. Whether it be teaching, volunteering, or taking classes at Edge, it'll still be a part of my life.

I can't tell you much more than that, but what I *DO* know is that God has so much planned for me and I cannot wait to see what He brings my way!

So that brings me to what some would call the conclusion... point c, the final point, the wrap-up.
I NEED YOUR PRAYERS!
I think this blog has given you a taste of what the past month and a half has brought me. But I have a growing suspicion that God is going to test my faith in more ways.
Pray for:
(the "stuff" stuff.)
1) Employment! And when we get to it further on down the road, housing.
2) The travel! I'll be driving my baby, a '98 Dodge Neon named Princess Izzy (lovingly dubbed by my bestie during our last road trip out to California.) We've had our ups and downs together, but she's mostly like Old Faithful. Just pray that God will give us safe passage to our new home.
Also pray for Ruth's flight back! (Anyone who knows Ruth knows why.)

(the heart stuff...aka, the harder-to-do stuff.)
3) My faith! Like I have mentioned, since God has pointed me in this direction, I have had a few meltdowns. I am taking a ridiculously giant leap of faith, and I am, to put it lightly...terrified. Pray that I wouldn't be like Peter...that I would stop looking at the water beneath me and look into His beautiful face, knowing he has this all planned out.
4) My friends and family...and me. Leaving them is going to be probably the hardest thing I've done in my life, and there will be, I'm sure, great moments of "homesickness." Pray for God's comfort during these times. Either that or pray for a few airplane tickets back home for a short time.

Before I finish this off, I have to send off a few specific shoutouts.

To Chelz. My confidante, my partner in crime, my same-species, my beautiful tree...my best friend. I hate leaving you. I think I told you this when I broke the news to you...but I figured we've never spent more than maybe 4 months at a time apart since we first met. Certainly no more than 6. Nothing I could ever say can even come close to describing how much I'm going to miss you. I love you, dear BFF! That will never change.

To my sister -
I wish I could explain to you all of this in a way that would make you understand. But I think just like how I didn't fully realize why we left Hawley, you might not understand why I have to leave you now. I pray that this would all make sense to you someday, that this may be another example of God's amazing plan for us all. It kills me knowing I won't be able to come to your band concerts, be there for your birthdays, or annoy you in whatever ways I can think of (because I know you secretly like it). I think God knew what he was doing when he let 10 years, 3 months and 4 days pass before I got to meet you, and I couldn't imagine life being any different. I love you so much, Nomi-jean. You are my best sister.

To my parents -
I never understood growing up what it really meant when you followed God's call to all the places we've lived. I never fully understood why we left Hawley...all I knew is that you were doing what God called you to do and I just had to take it at face-value.
If there's any testament to how you've raised me, it's this. Because I finally get it. It's the thing that makes no sense that makes the most sense.....because you're trusting God. Thank you for not doing the thing that made the most sense. My whole life since that move from Hawley, I've always longed for roots...for one place to call home. Because I thought that's what would make me happy. But I understand now that just because I am not "in the ministry" doesn't mean that I am immune to God calling me to other places.
I cannot even fathom how my life is going to be without you close by me. Even while I was away at college, it still felt like I had a safety net. It was being able to come home when I "needed to do laundry," even though it cost way more in gas than it would have just to do laundry in the dorms, or when I "needed more of mom's salsa," which was, in fact, a true necessity, because it's not like  I can just run to the store to get your amazing salsa. Yes, getting salsa and 'free' laundry was a perk, but it was never about that. It was just that I needed family time.
Thank you for graciously understanding this all, for waiting for me to make decisions for myself, and for always pointing me back to Scripture and absorbing myself in it. I love you more than I can ever say or do.

With that...

I'm so excited to see what God has in store! I am scared in the best way, confident that He has me in His palm! So now... I do believe this is going to be the first post of many more to come! It'll be interesting to see what new posts I'll be posting from here on out!


Psalm 32:8:
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."