Wait, school no more?

This has been such a fun season of life. I'm in my final semester of school, which is more sweet than bitter, if I'm being honest. It does seem so odd that what I've been doing my whole life (school) is about to be over. The next step has always been the next grade, but now it's something so completely different. What that something is I'm not sure of yet, but I'm praying and trying to discern the Lord's voice and will in what next step I should take. I know that the Lord won't leave me or forsake me, and that His plans are far better than anything I could come up with alone. I can't wait to see what He has in store; I'm excited regardless of if I'm here in Wilmington, home in Asheville, in some far off city, or even a foreign country. Be praying that these precious opportunities would be showing up, and that I wouldn't selfishly decide on anything, but that the Lord would be basis of my decisions.

When I think of what sorts of things I need to update you with, the four main areas I tend to clump my life into is Young Life, school, my walk with Jesus, and my wonderful community of friends. Briefly I'll mention what's going on in each of those...

Young Life has such a close place in my heart. I've been walking with these certain five high school girls since they were freshmen. They have become so grown up and I love watching them seek and search for the Lord in everything. I'm not a youth leader at the church they go to, and I go to bible study with them and ski trips and church dinners. It's really encouraging to see some fruit in my ministry even though that should never be the reason for our "reaching-out." I have come to love these girls so much, and can't wait to see how the Lord changes them even more so than he already has!

School is intense. Mom, why didn't you tell me that accounting wasn't as easy as a communications or parks and recreation major? :) I do love the work so that at least makes the intense workload not so ridiculous. I've learned that I much prefer cost/management accounting over taxes or auditing. Who knows how that'll change though with the next three months?

The Lord is teaching me so many things right now. I've been praying on being a better servant and living selflessly. My mentor and I are reading a book titled "Improving Your Serve" which has been so convicting and challenging. There are so many opportunities each day to serve those around us, but what are the real motives in doing that? I know for me I've been learning that sometimes its for my own popularity, fame, and glory. Rarely do I think about the Cross and Jesus when I do something for someone else. Oh, how I need the Lord to change my heart!

I've also been reading a lot on guarding my heart. The bible says that the heart is the wellspring of life and we are commanded to protect and maintain it. The Lord has given me a new heart so I should be so careful and vigilant in protecting it. I'm praying that I would be content with my current portion and my lot, and that I would give fully my heart to Jesus. I shouldn't hold any part of my heart from Him, for it truly does belong to Him anyway. Expect a whole post on just this soon.

As for my community, y'all I am beyond blessed. I have the most encouraging friends and such a solid group of older women to seek wisdom from. My friends are intentional and care about the matters of my heart. They recognize when I'm struggling and they take time to listen to me and pray for me. I am so humbled by what they do for me, and I only hope I can do half that for them. I'm living with three sweet girls that have become my best friends. I serve on my Young Life team with my best friends and we get to pray for our high school friends together. I really am so grateful for all their friendships.

I probably need to make a big girl decision and go do homework now. I know I said I'd keep this brief but I suppose I couldn't help myself. I'm going to try to do a better job at keeping up with this thing from now on.

Here are some of my friends at Fort Fisher.


One of the pictures from a fun photo shoot. We were pretend laughing....can you tell?


Here is Katelyn and I with some of our high school girls. We rode the ferry to Southport and spent the day hanging out and having fun.


These are two of my high school girls, Keala and Alli. This was for "Mustache Club." I think we did a pretty good job designing our shirts!