As of the age 22, I have traveled through life in the mind set that school sets my schedule. It has determined when I wake in the morning and pretty much when I go to bed. It has told me when I will be off during the week or for holidays. The half days or teacher work days. The snow days or maybe the random rain days (yes, I can recall one). School controlling my schedule is not over yet, I still have a semester... BUT I am just now realizing that I just finished my last spring break...at least for a while. Wow, what a weird feeling!!
School and education is often something that we take for granted. So many girls and women in other parts of the world do not have the leisure to learn, they must work for their family and collect water on a daily basis. Many boys do have an extended education, like many of us assume we should have the right to. I am thankful for that leisure.
But I had an awesome one and I wouldn't change anything I did with anything. I choose not to do any homework or study. I choose to spend it the way I wanted and with who I wanted to. Differently then most would assume, I did not have each day planned out in advance, I actually just went day by day.
Now my goal of this post is to remember what I did each day and reflect. My dad's parents keep such a wonderful calendar or diary of what they do each and every day and keep all those books for life. I often think, I should start, but instead I find myself respecting them for that and blogging away.
Saturday, March 9th:
I kicked off my spring break by spending Saturday morning at church with the young disciples and parents, youth, Pastor Tony, Pastor Steve and Brandon as we together learned and shared the story of the Passover, what communion and baptism is all about. Being in fellowship with my brothers and sisters of Christ is so relaxing and rejoicing for me. Some of these children I have watched grow up and some are just not entering my life, but no matter what I am blessed by their presence. I spent the rest of the day around the house with my mom and dad, possibly moving furniture (i can't remember), likely working a puzzle and spending time with the dogs. I finished off the evening with my high school friend at the winery (yes, classy i know) and baking a cake later that night (my first attempt to a gluten free pound cake).
Sunday, March 10th:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMOM!! As I was surrounded by the always flowing love from our heavenly Father, I shared my gift by serving as Assistant Minister. Got to hold baby Peters :) such a sweet heart and cuddler... i think we will become buddies (hehe). We spent the afternoon with grandmom in Hickory for her birthday. And we tried my first attempt to a gluten free pound cake.. and well the results are that the Penuche icing was amazing.. the cake needs some work, but Grandmom seemed to love her cake so all was well. Living gluten free is a experiment on most days anyways.
Monday, March 11th:
Having lifetime friends are rare and few. Friends from high school for some may be the same, but fortunately I was blessed to make some wonderful choices during middle school and high school on my friend choices. Today I spent the day with Stacie shopping and doing what we do best... being us. I have known Stacie since 7th (yea we were dorks then and still are).
Tuesday, March 12th:
Today I did what I thought I would have done all week, but nope. I spent some wonderful blessed hours at Yokefellow. I worked on the thrift store side, which was a first for me. Then I met friends at the winery to be classy again. Had a Youth and Family, Christian Education meeting at church that night before heading back to Hickory for the night.
Wednesday, March 13th:
Rise and shine the day is beautiful and we are off to Asheville to go to the Biltmore. Rachel and I went to visit the HUGE house. It was my third visit to the Biltmore and I learned more this time as well. We walked ALL around, and drove EVERYwhere you can on the grounds. We ventured through back rounds in the town and found out that speed bumps in Asheville are not clearly marked. The adventures and journey's that we have been on is uncountable because more times than often we don't realize we are on one.. but no matter what we are making memories!!
Thursday, March 14th:
Whew, today was not a day that I look forward to, but is life. Today we celebrated the life of Bob as we remember his family in prayer. Funerals are never fun, but wonderful stories and memories of Bob were shared. Bob will be dearly missed from our church family. I remember the first Sunday that I began to know Bob better. I must have been in late elementary school, it was Rally Sunday School day and we are prayer buddies. Bob was mine. He asked me about what I liked to do and he shared with me his love for golf and serving people. I remember thinking serving people, that doesn't sound fun and I gave him that weird look. Well either he inspired me or he saw it in me for the beginning, but my love for serving others began and he always asked if I had done something fun in the week and sometimes asked if I had done any volunteering. The summer I spent doing my internship, I remember him asking me if I had found the love in serving others yet... he had remembered the day that I looked at him crazy. My love for serving shined through and my love for Bob grew. He attended every event held at church, even the Price Park ones. Bob will be truly missed, but will always be remembered. It was a beautiful funeral.
Friday, March 15th:
Hello Lazy day of Spring Break. Spent the morning just being lazy with Skittles. Enjoyed late lunch with my college dance buddies including the bride to be in June. We are all growing up, time is flying by. Made dinner for mom and dad.
Saturday, March 16th:
Yard work with Dad in Hickory at grandparents. Helped Grand dad with things on the computer. Came home for some puzzle time and then to the 15th Annual Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase with the best friend, Brandon. Proud of myself for not getting antz (only on the instrumentals).
Sunday, March 17th:
Did you wear Green or get pinched? Started the morning off at the early service at First Presbyterian worship service and then went to worship at my church. Great Sunday morning. Had youth group in the afternoon and then attended a concert in Hickory, Agape! Agape is a Lutheran HipHop singer... pretty awesome! :D
Oh what a wonderful spring break it was, blessed beyond measures. Blessed for all the friendships that I have made and maintained throughout the years. Blessed for the wonderful support from family in Christ, family, friends, and more. Excited to tackle the rest of the semester and the finish out to my college career, December I can see you! Blessed to have had Pastor Steve in my life for the past five years or so. He has taught me so much and he will be truly missed.
Dear heavenly Father,
You are awesome and I love you. You show us love of more than we can handle. You teach us to love everyone and to accept all those around us. Throughout life we walk paths of struggle, frustration and things we do not want to face but you are there standing behind us. You remind us that we are not alone. I want to lift up prayers for all those that has lost a loved one. I want to pray for all those that are serving our country. I want to pray for all those close and around the world that are dealing with the extreme and simple struggles of life. You Lord, you are amazing. I love you. In Jesus holy name, I pray.. Amen!
The two quotes above have been very important to me during this last semester of my college career. Taking an extra semester to finish up has been an adventure for sure. Most of the people that I spent time with during college graduated in May including my two of my closest friends (roomies). During this final semester I have come to grow closer to my hometown, Lenoir, and have been reminded that having connections is powerful. Life is a journey, everything that we do impacts our lives in one way or another. We may not be aware of how it is going to impact us, but God has a plan. He may lead us down paths that are dead ends or have smaller paths that easier to be overseen for us to travel. He may have us turn around and walk the same path twice collecting other experiences in order to fulfill his plan for us. I am someone that likes to know the plan, I like to know all the details of what is happening and like to be in the know. But with my life journey, I have had to learn to be more willing to let go and just walk the path that is being set before me. There is no destination for our lives, but rather experiences to create a journey. 
My final semester is in action and coming to a soon finish, but much different that I would have thought it would be. Last year, I learned that I would have a extra semester to finish, making me a December grad at 4.5 years. I am not ashamed by it all. I changed majors and am now doing something I love, so no shame there. But the weird part is not having as many friends on campus, familiar faces around and my best friends on campus. This semester I am living at home, and the most common question asked is, where are your roomies if you live at home. Well as blessed as I am to have wonderful friends that I called roomies, I am also blessed to have best friends that love to follow their dreams. Even though that means not being in the country, I am so happy that they are following their passion and living their dreams. I to will soon get to live my dream and follow my passion. 
