This past June, for a number of reasons - the number one being the Lord - I felt called back to Texas, in December. I was excited and scared.
The first 4 months of my experience here were not the best to say the least. They were filled with lots of valleys and mountains. I was suffering - and I wasn't doing it well. I wasn't praising the Lord through all my circumstances... I was merely complaining because life wasn't as great as I had imagined it being up here. (Granted I never imagined life up here before the Lord put moving to VA on my heart).
In May I began to pray that the Lord would change my circumstance. For awhile I had been asking for friends; true, honest, great people. Well, in April he delivered Lauren (a huge blessing!) Life got instantly better...mainly because I had a social life. From that point, a friendship bubble appeared to be growing out of nowhere.
In June, some cards unfolded and I was shown that I was in fact going back to Texas..in December. I became ecstatic. Overjoyed. Thankful that the Lord was bringing me back....however, now I had friendships I would be leaving - roots I had began planting I would soon me ripping up.
Skip forward to my trip home in August/September for Labor Day.
I was sitting on the front porch of my parents house, just thinking, enjoying the countryside that is not readily available in VA...and it was almost like He spoke audibly, saying "Hey, I'm not quite done with you in Virginia...how does May sound?" I was dumbfounded.
Here I was, so excited to be moving back in December (I bought a house in July, an absolutely adorable house mind you, ptl!) absolutely positive it was the Lord calling me back, but now - here He is saying, "Can you wait, can you trust me, I need a few more months."
I questioned Him, saying things like "Well can't you finish those things in Texas.., I mean, seriously?" It was obvious His answer was "No" in the way things seemed to take shape.
I began to pray when I got back to VA and eventually informed Rob & Sharla of my decision - and of course they were incredibly excited that I was staying until May...and so was I. I wasn't ready to leave in December, and leaving in May would provide an extra 5 months.
An extra 5 months for...
- trusting the Lord in keeping me here
- being challenged by Him
- traveling more places
- hanging out with my friends here
- one more Cherry Blossom season
- time for more visitors
- and more time with Charlie.
Everyday I see the plan He had in bringing me up here unfold a little more.
You see, as it turns out - He needed to bring me out of Texas to teach me more about Himself AND myself than I ever could have imagined. I've learned a lot about some ugly parts of me that existed, and thanks to Him have been improved or removed. Prayers I had prayed since being in college - He's answered them, in the strangest ways. I've been up here for 11 months and I'm not the same person I was when He brought me up here, and for that I'm thankful. Being up here has been me thankful for a lot.
I thought you all deserved a little filling in. I know that He's keeping me here until May - and that it's not me... mainly because I had it in my mind to be leaving and I was excited - and He has totally reversed those emotions.
The end remains the same. I'm moving back to Bryan/College Station and I cannot wait to start my life there - to become a part of New Life - a church that is just amazing and so Christ centered
- to see what all the Lord has in store for me there...
- to become a part of the families lives again that I once (and still do) love so much
- to be closer to my family (something I realized I took for granted in moving up here)
I'm so thankful His ways and plans are always way better than mine. I certainly thought I'd be in Virginia for a lot longer than 15 months and I didn't see myself moving back to B/CS at all.. but I'm overjoyed that I am.
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