Home for the Summer.

Another summer has come and gone, I swear it goes by faster every year.  And although I am rather stir crazy to return to the cities, to reunite with some of my closest friends, and to take a break from my break, it would only be fair for me to give my summer one last hoorah before moving forward to the months ahead of me.

To be completely honest, I was not even sure that I was going to even come back.  After living in Minneapolis for three school years, I have really begun to appreciate all that it has to offer and how significant of a place it has become in my life – my home away from home.  Besides the fact that I would be returning to the same old same old…and was that where I really wanted to spend the entirety of my summer?  But as the end of my spring semester approached, I felt more and more compelled to go home.  I was not entirely sure why and was not entirely sure that I even wanted to.  But if I have learned anything in my life, it is to go where He tells me to go, trusting that there will be a means to the end.

So to my home in Wisconsin I went, not knowing what was in store for me. 

Now I would be lying if I said this summer was all rainbows and grilled cheese sandwiches, for there were many moments where I found myself regretting my decision, frustrated and stuck.  But as my days continued, I began to realize the purpose of my venture, which was nothing that I anticipated or expected, as that always seems to be the case.  Human nature strikes again.

The majority of my summer was spent doing the things I always do, but sometimes the simplicity of going back to the basics reveals the complexity of what lies beneath it all.  But by revisiting these “basics” – spending time with my family, serving at my home church, investing a part of me into two very special kiddos (as big or as small as it may have been), fasting and praying, being a big sister and even more so a friend to Abigail, fostering relationships that have always been – I was able to see the significant value that they carry in my life.  Their constant presence, as repetitive and sometimes unnecessary as they may seem, has created the foundation for my future.  Without them, I would not be where I am today and would not be able to go where I will eventually need to go. 

There has always been uneasiness to me about change, about moving on and forever leaving behind things that were always once so dear to me.  I think it is just scary.  This summer has taught me to think beyond that, for the first time ever.  It is not always about leaving something behind; it can be about building upon it, using what is familiar to help develop the unknown.  And sure, things will not always be the same.  Change is inevitable, but it is okay. 

And above all, I have a life promised in Him, which will be far better than anything I imagine or attempt to accomplish in my own strength – I need to trust and follow, believing that the changes that will occur will be what has been intended for me all along.

I cannot say whether this will be my final summer at home, as nice as knowing would be.  But I will know when I need to know, and until then, I will continue to live one day at time.  Because it will be okay, everything will be more than okay. 

So cheers to you, summer.  You have once again proven to be my favorite. 

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

-- Matthew 6:34