Hello Real Life!

I have moved!!! I am now a resident of Denton, Tx and the official owner (well, renter) of my very first apartment! Last Saturday, with GREAT help, I made the BIG move from Melissa, Tx to Denton. I know 4 people that live here (including my leasing agent, so I'm not sure if she counts). This will be a mighty adventure. God has definitely brought me to this and He's been planning it from what I can physically see for 2 years. I worked at a YoungLife camp 2 summers ago where I met Cody Strange, then re-met him this past summer while working at a different summer camp 700 miles away. Ended up getting invited by Cody to take girls to camp later that summer, fell in love with the girls and made some great friends. Went back to Arkansas for school and realized how much I didn't love it there (with the help of Cody reminding me I had a YoungLife family here that loved me...pretty much daily) I knew that God was calling me to a different place. If I wouldn't have been in Arkansas in the first place I wouldn't have applied to go to SharpTop (where I saw Cody for the 2nd summer in a row) and I wouldn't have taken girls to camp and who knows where I'd be. So in conclusion Arkansas had to happen, and through everything God has really opened up my eyes. I was offered an apartment with a good friend of mine that I would have loved, but I didn't feel like God was on bored. After many late night phone calls with numerous friends and a lot of prayer I realized that God was definitely calling me to live by myself and finally grow up which brings me here. To a 450 square foot studio apartment. For now (hopefully) it's just me myself and I. I am hoping for a dog soon but it's taken a lot to convince the parental units. It's been pretty back and forth and I can see it going either way. On one side, I am living by myself and would really like someone (even if it is a dog!) here to be with me and alert me if I'm not alone. On the other hand a dog (the ones I'm looking at) live for about 15 years and that would be an issue if I ever wanted to study abroad or travel. If I eventually developed roommates I could have them fall in love with the little sucker, and then ask them to watch the dog for a few months (of course I'd pay for the food...don't think I'm going to leave them high and dry!!) while I'm away or if I just don't get a dog I can save money. I really would love one so we'll see. Keep the prayers going!! Let's see. I got internet and cable on Monday, and will start school the next Tuesday! Everything is happening so fast. Crazy. It's so crazy how God moves in peoples lives. My heart has completely shifted, when Cody first told me I should move home I thought he was crazy. I just prayed about it because I felt obligated too and it was usually the last thing I prayed about for about a second. I thought it was silly and never going to happen but God just put this detour in my life and with a little teeth pulling I'm finally here. To be honest I have always moved, from elementary school I was suppose to go to West but went to Apollo. From Apollo Jr. High I was suppose to go to Berkner and I went to Richardson, then moved in the middle of Sophomore year, stayed in Melissa for a year and then moved back to Richardson for my Senior year. I just wanted to stay in one place for college and graduate from a school I'd started at for the first time in my life and when I realized I needed to go back to Texas I was not happy about having to change. Then while apartment hunting I laughed at the idea of living alone, once again God uprooted my life. Love it. I'm happy to be following God's will and think this season of me + God is going to be incredible. There will be distractions but not nearly as many as usually. I am finally being forced to grow up, to cook and clean on my own, will it be tough? Heck yes. Will it be worth it? Definitely. This will literally just be me. and God. Cool. He has really taken everything out of my life that could get in the way, and therefore I know He is up to something, so I look forward to seeing how this all turns out. In about a month I will be completely done reading the bible and that is pretty exciting (Probably in the next 2 weeks) my goal is to be done before school starts, but that's about 3 hours of reading a day. Once I am done I will get a few of the books I've been putting off out of the way and then it's back to Genesis 1:1 in ESV. Or maybe Matthew 1:1. The old testament wasn't the easiest thing to read and I might new a small break from it for a little while. Not that it wasn't great. I learned a lot. I just think I should focus more on when Jesus was on earth, because He is the bomb. Fun times.

In the past 4 days I've really felt like this is where I belong. This is a feeling I wanted to have when I was in Arkansas but I know I convinced myself I did belong because of circumstances. Sure, I miss Arkansas a bunch already, the school spirit (although orientation today had a lot of unwanted school spirit at 8 am) the beautiful campus, the trees, etc. but when I drive through Denton or today when I walked around on campus I felt like this is where I am suppose to be and God has definitely honored my willingness to pick up and go at the drop of a hat by giving me security here. When I walked into my apartment for the first time, all my boxes were on their way to Denton thanks to my lovely neighbor, sister and mother, all I had was my purse, my contract and my key and I knew it. That very second I knew I had picked the right place. Sure one of my kitchen drawers was missing and if you stand on my porch you can see the county jail but this place was the perfect size, the perfect price, and God called me here.

Please continue to pray for me during this crazy transition, and let me know if you have anything I should be praying for you about. Prayer is so great because I get to call up my Best Friend and ask for advice from the One who knows all the answers, so it would be my privilege to pray for you...just another excuse to talk to my Dad.

Picture of my apartment will be up asap! Once I get all my furniture and everything done I'll be sure and let everyone know!

Love.