Leaving Comfort

My whole life I have been comfortable. I have had the most amazing parents anyone could wish for. I have an incredible family. I know that people say this a lot, but obviously I am bias. I mean I know we have our flaws, but who doesn’t? I am coming to find more and more each day that there are so many things to learn from in having imperfections. Thanks family, you have taught me so much and mean more to me than you will ever know.

I have also lived in the same house my entire life. A home that I knew was safe and where the doors were always open. A special place that I will forever know as home and hold dearly in my heart. And a place that I will always leave with a full stomach and a happy heart ;)

I’ve grown up in, for the most part, a safe town. I’ve attended a church that is filled with some really great people. The kind of people that are always there for advice, and that you can always count on to have a good time. WCBC is filled with some of the most Godly people I have ever met. Thank you.

Friends... Wow am I blessed! I have friends like Rachel Lundgren who have remained close even after she moved in the 8th grade. I’ve been friends with Emily Leismer since the first grade in Miss Jones’ class. Then there is Sarah McBride, my partner in crime. All of these girls are stuck with me for life. But there so many many more people from youth group, high school, and college that have played an irreplaceable role in shaping me. Thanks.

A couple weeks ago I had this overwhelming feeling of knowing that I was in the right place at the right time. Taylor University is the college that God called me two years ago, and still today I am convinced that it’s perfect for me. And so many things didn’t add up for me to go there (especially the finances). But after a lot of prayer and so much convincing everything ended up falling right into place.

I live on the 3rd floor, on the South end of English hall. And man did God once again wrap his arms around me and provide me with great people. The girls on my wing have helped me in ways I don’t even know yet. Their love for the Lord is amazing, and we really just have so much fun together. They’re just great!

As most of you know, college life has been somewhat crazy for me. I have decided to graduate in three years which makes for a busy experience. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

So you are probably wondering why I am rambling on and on about things that most of you already know. Well all of this is just to say that my whole life I have been surrounded by more love and comfort than I could ever deserve. I have an awesome family, great friends, and a God that is constantly faithful.

And today, while these people are still very much a part of my life and always will be, I will leave them. I will leave a country that I love. A country that has freedom and those who willing fight for my safety.... things that I far too often take for granted.

I’ve come to the conclusion that goodbyes wouldn’t hurt so badly if I wasn’t so blessed. So I guess I’ll take the rough goodbyes over losing any of the amazing people I have in my life.


So today I am going to embark on a journey that will be nothing like everything else that I have known. A new chapter starts today and this chapter will be filled with a lot of adventure, and so much growth.

At 6:05p.m. I will start my trip to Dublin, Ireland.

Wait. Yeah, that's right...

IRELAND!!!

I really can’t believe it. I have never been overseas and really only been out of the U.S. once...but if you ask me a quick lunch in Canada in the 6th grade hardly counts...

The background of the cover of my journal is of old maps and there is a verse on the front that reads Joshua 1:9 “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

So although I am saying goodbye to so many things, I can take with me one familiar thing, the Holy Spirit. Praise God that no matter where we are, and who we are with (or not for that matter) He is always there, never leaving or forsaking us.

Wow, I am sorry that this post is so long, hopefully most won’t take you so long to read.

My bags are finally packed, but I still am not fully comprehending all that I am getting ready to do.

I am a little nervous, but for the most part extremely excited!

There will be so many great things to see on this trip and I hope that this blog gives you a glimpse of that. In addition, there will be so much that I will learn and I hope this gives me an opportunity to share some of it with you. I will also have a little more time, and less credit hours, so that is my motivation for keeping this updated!

I am sorry if it is boring, if the grammar isn’t always perfect, or if it doesn’t always make sense, but I think it will be a good way to debrief.

I hope it helps us keep in touch!

Peace and Grace,

Julie