what a year it's been to be at auburn: an undefeated season, a heisman trophy winner, and a supply of memories to last a lifetime. it's been a few months since i've blogged so decided it was about time. when i thought through everything that my semester has entailed, i was a bit overwhelmed. it seems the recurring themes have been patience and trust. God has continued to abundantly bless me in countless ways. i am so undeserving yet He showers His unconditional love upon me. what a mighty God we serve!
football has always been something that's close to my heart, but this year that jumped to a whole new level! after every home game i would tell my friends and family "that had to be the best game yet"...it just kept getting better! with all the hype of winning in the air and the spirit of unity that exists only in auburn, what's not to love?! i feel blessed to be a part of a school that goes beyond academics, beyond simply games, and truly is a community that experiences life together! through seeing our team perform on the field, mentor in the classroom, and serve those around them, i realized once more auburn truly is a place like none other. it amazes me that i can temporarily call it home! god totally had his hand in placing me on the plains and there could not be a better college for me. i have friends better than i could have dreamed of, love what i am studying, and literally get chills when i pull back into town after any stint away! even my family has picked up on it and my mom's new favorite phrase is war eagle!! what can i say, it's contagious!
this semester i've also experienced true teaching for the first time. all of my classes are directly related to the classroom and my future career which i love! i've rekindled my love for children's books (my latest favorite: pinkilicious), had the most hilarious learning moments, and seen what it means to truly impact a life. i've witnessed everything from students performing raps and having dance contests to transition from identifying two letters to full letter recognition! although i've seen that teaching will be much harder than i ever realized, i've also discovered that it will be more rewarding than i could imagine! educating future generations is such a privilege and huge responsibility but holds such a special place in my heart. i'm excited to continue diving into it.
the lord has been so evident in my life this semester, maybe even more than ever before. he has worked so many things together for his good as i could never predict. i am continuously amazed by who our lord is and constantly challenged to be still and know. if i believe HE is God, i must believe He has it in control! so often i can't seem to control certain parts of my life...in these moments, i see my great need for Him and that i'm not meant to. i am such a planner and i want to know what my future will look like and where it will take me...the Lord has reminded me that it's not my job to map out my life but only to be patient and see where He takes me. proverbs 19:21 says "many are the plans in the heart of a man, but it is the lord's purpose that prevails". this verse has brought me to my knees on countless occasions this semester because i find myself clinging so closely to my desires and plans but knowing that i must submit and trust that the Lord will once more prove true. He holds me close and reminds me of that so often.
i've had the opportunity to dig into david platt's "radical" this semester. talk about a challenging read. our culture truly reflect this "american dream ideal" that is so unhealthy and un-bibilical. through a number of contributing factors i have seen that this is not at all something that i want. i think it is so easy to get caught up in needing the next new thing and living as society deems appropriate...this is such an empty lifestyle. i want my life to be marked by something different. i want to stand out because my faith affects my life that dramatically. i want to live as the bible says and not as i interpret it. i want to give more; i want to serve more; i want to love more. i want to be more consumed by the Lord and let that define me. boy do i have a long way to go!
what a semester...and to try to sum it up in a few brief paragraphs. as i write and reflect these are the things that stick out to me. i have continued to prize the relationships i'm surrounded by and constantly brag that i have the best friends in the world! God has taught me so much, and i know i still have a ton to learn...i look forward to what lies ahead. for now all i can say is war cam eagle, time to go duck hunting :)
