"Those Were The Best Years Of My Life"
A week from now, I will be 20 years old. Whaaattt? It really does seem like yesterday that I turned 13. That happened at the end of 6th grade. Woof, that was a rough year. I think that's when I really began to drive my parents freakin' crazy. Oh wait. It was probably before then. (This is where I take time to apologize to Ma and Pa for being a pain in the rear end). Anyway, the past 6 years have been filled with all the normal "teenagery" things: desiring independence, thinking I knew everything, sassing my parents, wanting to be like everyone else, wore all the trendy clothes, went on an emotional roller coaster, got zits at the worst times, fell in love, got my driver's license, got a detention, was grounded (maybe more than a few times), went to prom, broke hearts, made best friends, got my first car, had my heart broken, made some enemies, felt like my parents were against me, ignorant of what life was really like, got my first job, bought a lottery ticket (this was on my 18th birthday. it totes was a cheap gas station one. winning!), and just about anything else you can think of...
There were crappy times, but there were so many more incredible moments. I have experienced BIG life-changing events:
blessed to be able to travel to 9 different countries (Japan,Thailand,Ukraine,Moldova,Russia,Germany,Austria,Netherlands,and France), meeting one of my closest/best friends (here's a shout-out to Ms.Rachel Hopper), graduating high school, singing & traveling with my high school ensemble, spending Sundays & Wednesdays with my fabulous small group, watching my family grow stronger, being apart of camps & retreats, that left me hungry for more, visiting some remarkable cities, going to some sweet concerts (the Robert Plant/Allison Krauss show was the stuff), and....
I moved to Ukraine.
Yesterday, I took an hour or two to simply enjoy His presence. I got away from some of the noise, some of the distraction, and embraced the sweet sound of His voice. I began to think deeply about my teenage years. This is where remarkable and rememberable things took place. Tears began to sting my eyes as I thought about the complexity of my life. At the same time, I couldn't stop smiling. Even now, as I write this, I can't imagine that I would spend my last year of being a teenager in Ukraine. I imagined myself a college student, that seemed pretty normal to me. Isn't that what most people at 19 do? However, God wanted me to live in a whole new way. Perhaps He saved this moment for this time in my life, when I most needed it. I need this stepping stone in my life. I needed the wake-up call. I needed to be humbled. I needed to learn to love. I needed my Father's affirmation. I needed the feeling of pure bliss. I needed to get away from the stress of life. I needed change. It's this Divine change that has transformed my heart, mind, and spirit.
My prayer is that I can move into this next year and the next phase of my life with this in mind.
"More of Him, less of me."
"That's why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines."
There were crappy times, but there were so many more incredible moments. I have experienced BIG life-changing events:
blessed to be able to travel to 9 different countries (Japan,Thailand,Ukraine,Moldova,Russia,Germany,Austria,Netherlands,and France), meeting one of my closest/best friends (here's a shout-out to Ms.Rachel Hopper), graduating high school, singing & traveling with my high school ensemble, spending Sundays & Wednesdays with my fabulous small group, watching my family grow stronger, being apart of camps & retreats, that left me hungry for more, visiting some remarkable cities, going to some sweet concerts (the Robert Plant/Allison Krauss show was the stuff), and....
I moved to Ukraine.
Yesterday, I took an hour or two to simply enjoy His presence. I got away from some of the noise, some of the distraction, and embraced the sweet sound of His voice. I began to think deeply about my teenage years. This is where remarkable and rememberable things took place. Tears began to sting my eyes as I thought about the complexity of my life. At the same time, I couldn't stop smiling. Even now, as I write this, I can't imagine that I would spend my last year of being a teenager in Ukraine. I imagined myself a college student, that seemed pretty normal to me. Isn't that what most people at 19 do? However, God wanted me to live in a whole new way. Perhaps He saved this moment for this time in my life, when I most needed it. I need this stepping stone in my life. I needed the wake-up call. I needed to be humbled. I needed to learn to love. I needed my Father's affirmation. I needed the feeling of pure bliss. I needed to get away from the stress of life. I needed change. It's this Divine change that has transformed my heart, mind, and spirit.
My prayer is that I can move into this next year and the next phase of my life with this in mind.
"More of Him, less of me."
"That's why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines."
--John 3:29-30 (The Message)
Yes. Yes. And Yes. to all of the above about the teenage/parenting, etc. stuff! HA!
ReplyDeleteWow - seems like just yesterday when you came out with the cord wrapped tightly around your neck and barely alive...
But, oh, how ALIVE you are NOW! In so many ways, you are ALIVE! Alive in His love, in our love and in His Grace! Alive in knowing better now than ever who you are and who your ABBA is!
What an awesome place to be when you turn 20...HUH? WAIT! Hold. the. freaking. bus. I DO NOT HAVE A 20-yr. old!!!!! Nope - you are and always will be my "little girl"!
Love ya, Beans baby!
Daddio