Where my shoes will be (Part 2 of Let it go)

So, if you have just started reading this blog, I encourage you to read the last one. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Now that we are all caught up, here is where the sstory continues.The speaker at the event then continued to say that he regretted not ever facing his fears and going in the deep end. “How many times are not going in the deep end where life is more exciting, where we need to be?” As I’m sitting on the floor with hundreds of other kids I don’t know, God spoke to me. He told me where I’ll be attending school next year.

Next year, my shoes will have sand on the bottom. They will be sticky from spills at amusement parks. They will be wet from sweat, not rain. (I realize that’s gross, but we all have feet that sweat.) They will be taking me on adventures in Fullerton, California. That’s right ladies and gentlemen; I’ll be attending Hope International University in the fall. That is my deep end. That is taking a chance, but I know that’s where God wants me. I will be majoring in family and youth ministry and learning about a culture I desire to change. I will be taking a chance, but God will be right there, holding me. AND I’M SO EXCITED!

Please pray for finanacial assitance to come through and that fear wouldn't get the better of me as I get closer to my departure.

Let it go

Those three words can pack quite a punch, but sometimes, they are just what we need to hear. Last Sunday at church, I was speaking with Paula Dawson, a woman who could be another mom to me, and we were talking about college. Her son, Drew, is my age and Drew, Paula, and dad/father Paul had just got back from checking Drew’s first choice school and she asked me if I had made up my mind. I promptly told her no, because while I was leaning towards a school, I hadn’t made up my mind. She said, “That’s OK, but it’s so exciting because God has you right in his hands.” While I realize that, I often forget it.

Tuesday night my soul sista, Maddi, sent me the picture above for two reasons. One, because I adore balloons (another story for another blog), and reason number two is because I tend to hold onto things for far too long. Balloons are the perfect symbol for letting things go. They just float away and never return again. I remember being little and letting balloons go in remembrance of loved ones who had passed away. My sisters and I would stare at the sky longing for them to return, but realizing that was impossible.

 

God used that image to penetrate my heart that night. I went to bed that night with a heavy heart. I needed to make some college decisions and didn’t know how. I just started crying and said,
“OK God you take this. I don’t want to deal with it any more. I’m putting it in your hands and just give me a sign and I’ll go to the college you choose. AMEN!!!!!” With that, I cried a little more and went to sleep.

 

Wednesday, I attended the Josten’s Leadership Conference at the Kent Showare Center. The first speaker of the day was from inner-city Chicago and never learned how to swim. When he and his friends went on a cruise, he never left the shallow end.

 

And on that note, you’ll have to wait a little longer to see how this story ends. A Pocahontas movie night with my sisters is calling my name. It is the important things in life.