22

As I am counting down the days until 23 (on the 23^rd) my mind is filled with all of the wonderful things that happened in 22. That 22 was a pretty great year, even though I didn't get married when I was 22 like my sister, or engaged at 22 like my mom... it just looked differnt, but still beautiful because the Lord molded me and shaped me a lot over this past year. And my story is differnt, which I am learning is okay because I know I am right where the Lord wants me to be. What blessing it is to have another breath and another chance to know the Lord better…

So here we go for some of the molding moments of 22:

I accepted my first job on the last day of 21, so I began 22 with a clear picture to where I would after graduation… God started to shine light on that next step.

I enjoyed many late night with the wonderful Bloomington group, always giving the excuse to moving to Thailand as the reason for staying up too late having a “study party” where they would all have tests and I would lesson plan.

Road trips to Loogootee (with “confessions” on video to mark the trip) and to Brookville

I graduated. Weird that means I became an adult at 22… right?

I watched seniors graduate who I had poured into for 4 years through YL

Got the chance to witness a precious girl make her first steps in Christ and pray with her

Said goodbye to my best friends for the past 4 years… and to my family

Made my first move out of my house – to the other side of the world.

Set up my first classroom…

Began my first job, with my first class.

Learned that on this Journey it is just me and Jesus… he’s my traveling companion.

Finally could say, that I am more whole and healed in this time of singleness

Paid my own rent and bills

Learned to eat with chopsticks

Road on my first motorbike

Bought and drove my first motorbike

Went on my own vacations… and they were awesome.

Touched the Indian Ocean

Hiked in the Thailand jungles

Bamboo rafted down a river – with no helmets

Rode on an elephant’s neck through the river

Taken a bucket shower

Rock climbed off the coast of India

Took a motorbike adventure through the Indian hills and jungles

Slept overnight on a sketchy Indian train (thanks Prinse)

Got a motorbike almost stuck on a beach

Saw dolphins and monkeys – in the wild

Drove a motorbike to the top of a mountain

Saw the world championship sumo wrestling competition (and made it on Japanese public TV)

Stayed in a guest house for $5 a night

Watched the sunset on 2007 and rise on 2008 all on a tiny island off the coast of Thailand

Rode in the back of a truck under the stars

Swam in the gulf of Thailand

Learned who I am in Christ, and to own my own faith

Learned that God is the ultimate provider, and he hasn’t forgotten about me

Learned he knows all my details…

22 was pretty good… I am blessed.

Learned he knows all my details…

22 was pretty good… I am blessed and I guess God does know what he is doing. I am not sure why it is so hard to trust that he really does have the best in mind.