Two years ago...

July 12. two years ago I started work at Duke. I was scared, upset, overwhelmed, and not sure what God was doing in my life.

a year ago I reflected about my first year here.

hard to believe that another year has gone by. It really is true, the older you get the more time speeds up. I wonder if it ever stops this trend; like when you retire? does time slow down at all?

But what has changed in this past year? a LOT!!!

For starters, God has brought me out of my job at Duke. Can we get an amen? AMEN! ;-). And more than that, I know have a job I really like. I work at the Girl Scouts as a Membership Director; I get to basically love on the volunteers in my assigned areas. Pretty much awesome and something I really like. It is very individual and I have power to try new things, do them my way, etc. Again, great for me!

What else? I am getting more and more involved in the church I go to, Providence Baptist. For starters, on July 20th I am getting baptized as a believer! I am also praying through joining the church as a member. Yesterday and today I sat through Providence's membership seminar and learned about their heart as a church from the senior pastor, David Horner. I have to say... I think I am going to join. I really just appreciate how they exist to first glorify God, and then let everything else be a over flow of that. It is an amazing church that I think I am going to spend my time here in Raleigh serving.

I love my friends here. We do lots of fun things... everything from cook outs, to camping, to trips to the beach, to movie watching, to just chilling. I have girls who I feel very close to and can talk about areas where I am struggling and areas I think God is growing me in. I have girls who ask me REAL questions and want to know my answers. Thank God for amazing women who pour into each other and challenge each other and who are seeking after the Lord's heart.

My roommate is great. Laura is one of the wisest women I know. I am thankful for how God is using her to encourage and challenge me.

Now I am just looking to see how God is leading me in the next year. I don't think He is yet calling me away from Raleigh, but I don't want to get content, either. I am going to start opening some doors... maybe take the GMAT and GRE and see if I am to go back to school. Maybe for my MBA... maybe for a nursing degree... maybe for a teaching degree. I am praying through different short term missions trips; I would love to go on one next year and want to see what God is leading me to. I know God is calling me to be a better steward of my financial situation. Beyond tithing, even... I need to use His money in a less selfish way and to get out of debt! So, what does that look like, I don't know. I want to start serving at Providence; maybe with the kids, maybe with my class, maybe both. Back to the stewardship... in some ways I need to be a better stewards of my health. I want to exercise more... thinking about swimming again. I want to eat only when hungry and eat healthy (ie, more fruit!). Man, oh man... lots of places to grow in. Hope I can honor God by just being faithful to follow God in every step and to allow myself grace when i fail. Pray for me over the next year. Steps of faith are scary, but they are also awesome! God does mighty things when you take them. :-)