grace eventually.

Yesterday I was thankfully able to watch my good friends' Shannon Steed and Matt Sigler unite in marriage. It's the main reason I came back to KY but I was really beginning to wonder if I would make it. I'm still battling a fever although today I feel a little better. It's such a disappointment when you have grand plans for how you will spend your days on vacation, away from work and responsibility. This was not what I had in mind at all. I'll post some pics from the wedding when I get back home. It was beautiful and perfect and represented who they are so well. I couldn't be happier for them. I got to see lots of old friends from both college and seminary. I really am grateful. Today I'm hoping to venture out into Lexington for a bit and hit my favorite brunch spot downtown! Please pray that my body continues to heal. I'm a little nervous about the flight tomorrow. I hate nothing more than flying when I don't feel well, especially when I'm congested. The pressure on my ears can be excruciating!

Yesterday afternoon Mom picked me up and drove me to the airport for my 5 day vacation in KY, still feels like home in a way. I'm so excited to be here, however, today has been an interesting day. I bundled up this morning for the 20 degree weather and made my way by the local coffee shop on the way to chapel. At chapel I saw a few familiar faces and heard a powerful message from Margaret Therkelson, a 70-year old Godly woman of prayer. I always loved our chapels when I was at school at Asbury so when I saw Mrs. Therkelson on the calendar for today, I knew I would be blessed. After chapel, Meredith and I walk out to grab some lunch and it's sleeting heavily! Now winter weather isn't uncommon in KY but icestorms are never good. By the time we got finished with lunch they had canceled classes for the afternoon. I decided to make the most of it and come back to Matt's house to watch movies with Matt, only both of us are feeling crummy and I've been battling a 100 degree fever all night. So we're stuck inside and neither one of us feel like cooking dinner but the thought of getting out in the ice and battling the roads sounds too taxing as well. At least it's a good tv night...American Idol and LOST and I have a good friend to hang out with. Tomorrow I will feel better...I'm determined!

One year.

It's been one year today that I got in the moving truck and began my journey back to LA...away from my life in KY. I remember it well. I felt like I was being torn part inside. My last 6 months there were such a roller-coaster. I graduated in May, along with some of my best friends. One moved away right after graduation, starting cryfest 2006. A few months later, April, my roommate of 5 years, moved to Texas. It only made sense that I should move on too. That's the thing about school. Someone is always moving on to their next adventure. It's just hard to let go sometimes.

Moving home was definitely not my first choice. I remember waking up the next day and being greeted by a huge fight with my dad. I spent my first morning back home crying in the shower, questioning why God had called me to move back here. There were certainly the obvious pros...family, Claire (my childhood best friend) was pregnant again with her first girl, saving money... Of course I had it all planned out. I would live at home no longer than 6 months and then possibly move somewhere else or into my own place. I would transfer to the Starbucks here until I found a more permanent job. I would look for jobs elsewhere. A year later I'm still with my parents, but moving out is on the horizon...maybe in January! I did transfer to Starbucks but it took 3 months to get hours there. In June I was offered another part-time job at my home church working with the children's ministry that turned into a full-time job doing Christian Education in September. I definitely never would've guessed I would be doing that! Claire had Avery in May and I'm completely in love with her! I've made new friends at church and at Starbucks that I love. If only there were more people my age and single! That's probably my biggest struggle. I miss having girlfriends that understand where I am in life and make being single a little more bearable. Thankfully I've been blessed to travel to TX to visit April several times and other places to see other friends so that's helped. I found out not too long ago that another good friend of mine, Shannon Steed, is getting married in KY in February so I'm planning to go to that. God is good in that he knows our desires and provides when we least expect it. He has been the glue that continues to bond me to my incredible friends and even when I don't see them or get to talk to them as often as I like, they are a part of me. I have no idea what the next year holds. It looks like Ruston will be my home a little longer.