20

I have been writing the mundane and wonderfully beautiful details of my life in notebook pages for over a decade now. I began writing in my first journal at the tender age of 10, when I was in the fourth grade. Now, I am 21, and beginning my junior year of college at the Bible Institute!

21 years of life.
20 journals.

All of my journals say something about who I was at a particular point in my life. When I'm super nostalgic, I'll look back at one of these earlier volumes and laugh at all the crazy things younger me wrote. I love that I have a physical remembrance of the person I was in the past, even though it can be odd because I feel so far removed from that girl.

And now I am leaving for Bible college, a journey I've been anticipating for what feels like the better part of 2 years. Everything God has given me in my life so far has been leading me up to this moment. I'm astounded at His goodness, but at the same time, I feel so weak in myself. I am in need of so much of God's touch and grace in my life. There is no strength in me.

I am infinitely glad that He has led me this far and does not give up on His child, but instead has wonderful plans of peace for me.

So begins the best year of my life.

Unexpected, Glorious, Radiant

Yesterday was one of those rare moments where life seemed to slow down and just kind of pause for a second. My parents and sister and I went out to breakfast at this beautiful little restaurant that overlooks the bay, and then we went for a stroll around the shore. We had plans to kind of rush into the next segment of the day and start packing for Bible college (we're leaving tomorrow), but something just made us stop and slow down.

Instead, my family and I took a sweet walk, enjoying each other's company and basking in the sunshine and just kind of praising God for what He has done. Honestly, life is so short. It astounds me that I am already 21. I am so grateful that this is the life I have been given to live, and that I have been blessed with such a great family and group of church friends. I love them all dearly!

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13

Well, this is my last day at home. Better get to packing!!

Last Days

Image found online. 

If I'm being perfectly honest, I am not in the mood to do much of anything. I leave for college in roughly three days, and besides the stack of books and pile of records sitting in the right corner of my room, I haven't done much in the way of packing. I'm too busy running in the park and exhausting myself by staying up late writing my novel, then waking up early to write again. I'm spending time around the house because I won't get to do that all year when I'm away at the Bible Institute. Most importantly, though, I'm finding time to sit and watch The Amazing Spiderman movies with my parents. It's these little moments that count the most right now.