Just the Beginning

I am so excited to share some things that I have been learning, and some wonderful things that have been happening recently!!
 I can't begin to describe how God works and how amazing it is. To sit back and be able to see why some things happened and how everything played out...it's too cool :)
 So, 1 week ago today I was taken totally by surprise when I got a phone call from a guy, telling me he had spoken with my dad (so wonderful!!) and now wanted to ask me if I was willing to start a courtship. I did just great during that conversation...NOT! "Umm, okay. Well, *nervous laugh* let me, umm talk to my parents, and, uh..." Yeah, you get the point. :P But I WAS taken by surprise and honestly hadn't been thinking about it so of course I wasn't ready with an answer. But after I got off the phone and could think clearly it didn't take me long to decide that I thought it was a GREAT idea and that he is a GREAT guy!  One of my favorite parts of the whole thing is the fact that neither of us have ever dated before. Neither of us were really sure where to go from there... It was a good kind of awkward, if you know what I mean :) I don't feel bad about the fact that I didn't  have "experience";  didn't know what was supposed to come next.  But I have wonderful parents, as does he (!!!!!!) that are a big part of our relationship and are both willing to help out and give advice, which is SOO great!!! I very much value my parents' wisdom and judgment.
 One of the coolest parts of this story, is before it began. Ok, well, before I could see it starting. Obviously God has had this in the making for a looooong time. Now that I'm at this point I can look back and see events leading up to it and it's so interesting! I have always planned on going to Bible college. It's just been something I knew was gonna happen. 1 year of Bible college, and sign language. A few months ago I had gotten an application to Pensacola Christian College, filled it out and had it ready to mail. I was pretty excited.  Every day I'd go to mail it, and then for some reason I didn't. I waited, and waited, and waited. I didn't understand why I couldn't send it in!! I just felt like I should pray about it, and wait awhile. Well after a few weeks I threw it away. Totally confused even myself. I felt like I should look for some things I could do on-line. So I did, and I realized how many resources we have today! It's incredible. I made a list of all the classes I'd take if I went to PCC and had  Bible as my major, and then I searched. And searched and searched and searched!! In only a few hours I found all but 2 of the classes I needed on random websites...for FREE!!! And then my friend, who's gone to Bible college already, had some books for the 2 classes I was missing! I can't believe it! All of that made me pretty happy. I'd still get the Bible training I wanted, but at home and I'd still be able to work and save money. But I have to say, I wasn't sure why it had happened this way. Now I can see why:):):) ( He knows what He's doing folks, even if we don't!)
 And as always, God's timing is perfect! I have, just in the last 2 months or so, learned some important lessons. The biggest one being patience. I am soooo impatient! I like to know what is going to happen; have everything planned out and know what I can count on. I was taught that it just doesn't happen that way. I think God enjoyed making me wait extra long for some things just to get me to see that it's worth it when you get there. Don't waste the time you have now wishing it away. Be patient and content in whatever season of life you are in. And trust... that's another one. You think it'd be easy to trust God, right? He knows everything, He made us, He has it all under control. Well, let me tell you, it's still a challenge sometimes. Being human, I'd try and make my own plans. I knew it was all taken care of and planned out perfectly, but didn't fully trust Him enough to leave it ALL up to Him I guess. And that led to some hurt and disappointment at times. I learned that lesson the hard way.
 I would say that I have grown a lot  in the last couple months. It's been amazing to experience! I'm so thankful for everything God's been teaching me, preparing me for new things!! With His help, guidance, and continued teaching I am so ready to move on to this next phase in my life!!
Praising my Lord for everything... I am so blessed!! :)