Yes, folks, that's right. It's officially summertime. It finally has come. I'm so glad that I survived the last couple weeks of class and finals week. God's faithfulness shines through once again. I am so thankful for everything He did for me this past year. It wasn't always easy by any means, but it was significantly better than freshman year. I learned a lot about myself--my strengths, weaknesses, downfalls, tendencies-- and also a lot about my friends. I was so blessed with great opportunities...Let's reflect, shall we?
1. I was able to be a student assistant for the volleyball team. Through that, I developed absolutely wonderful relationships with the team, the coaches, and Mayra. I got to travel and go to places I've never been (even if we didn't go into the city when we went to Nashville...it was still cool. I'm not bitter.).
2. I got to live in a hall with the perfect mix of the different classes. Although we had mostly freshman, that really didn't affect our relationships with them. Little did I know that that would be just one way that God was preparing me for next year.
3. I learned to love running this year. Although sometimes I go overboard and kind of do it too much, I'm glad that I've come to see how good it is, because I absolutely hated it in high school. My first half marathon is in 2 weeks!
4. God gave me the best roommate I could ever ask for. Hannah wasn't only my roommate, she was my standup comedian, an example of discipline, my go-to person for advice, and my accountability partner, she became a best friend (Oh, the sappiness. But I must give credit where it's due).
5. God put me in many situations in which I had to seek His face and wisdom. The situations drew me to Him and made me realize I am a loser without Him!
6. Being a teacher was something I wasn't 100% sure about coming into college. Even though Early Childhood Education has been my declared major all along, there was some uncertainty at the start. However, God has confirmed over and over again that teaching is not only what I want to be doing, but I believe He wants me to be doing as well.
7. I got to be a teacher's aide (yes, there's a difference between aid and aide, which was pounded into our heads this semester...) at Horizon Science Academy in downtown Dayton. For a Christian-school-going, naive, white girl, this was going to be a huge eye-opener. I was scared, and I admit it. But those kids had my heart very quickly, and I still think about them often. I miss them!
8. In spite of many obstacles, God has fulfilled a desire of my heart that has existed since about my junior or senior year of high school. Next year, I'll be overseeing and taking care of about 28 girls in Printy as an RA. I AM PUMPED. I know my life is going to look a lot different, but it's going to be worth it. It's been exciting to see the different rooms fill up these last couple weeks, and to now know the names of some of my girls. Plus, I'll have Hannah, Abi and Megan, so it will be nice to have some girls who aren't freshman to help out and keep me sane :).
9. The Biglers will be welcoming the first grandchild into our family in just over 2 months! I cannot wait to be an aunt and cannot wait to meet Amelia Jane. She has no idea how loved she is already, and how great of parents she has.
10. Lastly, He has seen me through a pretty dark, yet pivotal point in my relationship with Him. It's not exactly something I've advertised, but it's been so long I don't mind talking about it now. Last summer, I went through a few months of struggling with very strong doubt--in God's existence, the inerrancy of Scripture, Christianity in general. I've never been closer to throwing away my faith as I was then. BUT, once again, as I said in this post, God proved His faithfulness. He never let go of me. The Holy Spirit did it's work, convicting me and drawing me near. My doubt brought me closer to Him. Even though it was one of the most horrifying and terrible situations I've encountered, it was SO WORTH IT. I understand a little bit better what it means "to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." HE IS SO GOOD.
Even though I had a good, no, GREAT year, I'm so glad it's summer. I just got back from Florida with my family, which was amazing. I think I have the greatest family in whole wide world. I'm so pumped to hang out with my friends, to start work as a nanny (shoot, I forgot to mention that in my list...oh well!), and to prepare for being an RA.
It's gonna be a good one. God has a lot to teach me, and I can't wait to learn!
