Just a Thought...: Goodbye 2010... Holla 2011!

This is becoming one of my favorite posts every year.. to look back on the year I've had and celebrate the good and the bad and the things I've learned.

2010, well it was sort of boring when I first think about it, but here goes my list:

~The beginning of my year was spent preparing for what I thought would be a return trip to Sudan..

*I started making plans with one of my best friends, Mary.

*We went to Kansas City for training for our year overseas

*I had crazy dreams about the orphans at Harvesters, and started getting excited about the reality of returning there sometime in the near future.

~In January, I watched with the rest of the world, in horror, as so many people suffered in Haiti after the earthquake. My heart broke for those people.

~In February the curriculum I wrote for LifeWay was taught in Sunday school classes around the country, which was kind of surreal to think about.

~I went sledding with friends... and saw more snow than I ever wanted to see in my driveway

~I got to minister to a great group of high school girls, starting with their disciple now.

~I started leading worship with various friends... mostly with the Seth Medley Band, but also with the worship team at my church back home in Virginia.

~I got to see Hillsong United live and that was awesome!

~I road tripped it to Dallas with Allison and Erin squished in Erin's Volvo, ran a fake touchdown in the Cowboys stadium and pretended to be a cheerleader in their locker room, and yelled "Go Redskins" from star in the center of the Cowboy's field.

~The first two beautiful girls that I discipled when I was in college became college graduates themselves!

~I learned how far the Lord is willing to go to get our attention, and the people He uses to show us His will... God spoke through my friend Ryan to get me to realize that Sudan was my dream, not His.. that God had other plans for me.

~I worked my 6th summer of camp, only this summer I got to be part of the worship band for the first time ever. I spent 8 weeks at Carson Newman college with some of my best friends, leading worship for high school and middle school students. Everyday I was humbled that the Lord would use me in such a way.. that he would allow me to see all the work he was doing from the perspective of the stage. I was constantly encouraged and challenged by my brothers and sisters on staff, and am so grateful for what was likely my last summer working Fuge.

~I led students to Christ, prayed over students who were seeking direction or answering calls into ministry. I counseled and prayed over students who were facing unimaginable heartbreak and difficulties in life, and rejoiced over lives being changed by the love of Christ.

~I prayed specifically that the Lord would lead me to a job 1. near home 2. Nashville 3. back in Texas 4. Atlanta or 5. Chattanooga

~ The 2nd to last week of camp I sent my resume to a church that had sought the help of the Fuge office to find a youth associate, and in September I GOT A JOB and moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga is a beautiful place, and the friends I have here have made this transition easier than I ever could have hoped or imagined!!

~I drove a go-cart (albeit a slow one) for the first time ever :)

~I squished in to a truck of band boys to lead worship in Maryland- and to lead Bible study for the craziest group of middle schoolers ever!