what I learned from Anne and Jo

I went looking for my dreams outside of myself and discovered, it's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it.

-Anne of Avonlea

Growing up, some of my favorite movies included girls with adventurous spirits. Jo March. Anne Shirley. They leave home on some grand adventure, inspired by the stories they discovered in books. While there, they have lots of experiences that challenge them in new and different ways. They meet people they love. People whose lives they impact and vice versa. They experience fun and exciting things.

I always wanted to be like them. To go somewhere new. See the world. See the places I read about in books and saw in movies. Now I am like them. In more ways than one.

You see, while Jo and Anne were off on there adventures, they missed home. The people and places that shaped them. They discovered that it's not the places you go, but what you do while you are there. You don't have to go to far away, exciting places to be fulfilled. You simply go where your heart leads you. Sometimes your heart leads you home.

Does this mean I will be home forever? Probably not. My restless, adventurous spirit will be ready to go again shortly after getting home. But now I know that it's okay call the Carolinas home.

"Another sunny day in California. I'm sure back home they'd love to see it. But they don't know that what you love is ripped away. Before you get a chance to feel it "

-Back Home, Yellowcard

at a loss for words

I haven't posted in a while. Mostly because I haven't known exactly how to explain where I've been the last few weeks. A combination of homesickness and frustration with the lack of seeing results has gotten me down. Being a part of ministry where the fruit will not be evident until later is hard. And doing it without my support system and ways of coping has left me in a place that i have to fight my way out of regularly. i have found myself depending on God in new ways, on a deeper level.

its been hard.

"Things are going to change-- that is there nature. One day you succeed, one day you fail; one day you are at the top, another day you are at the bottom. But something in you is always exactly the same, and that something in you is your reality." -Osho

He is my reality. The only thing that will not ever change. Bad day. Amazing day. On the mountaintop. In the valley. He was. And is. And is to come. Always.

"Those who look to Him are radiant with JOY." Ps. 34:5

My prayer is that JOY will rise above how I feel.

PS: good news!!! I will be serving as the MFuge Developmental Director at University of the Cumberlands next summer!!!