Five Years

Back to my big move five years ago.

It is funny the things I remember from those first few days. I remember the drive up with my parents. We had two cars so I split time driving with my mom and dad. When I was with my mom I remember I kept trying to be excited. We talked about what my life would look like over the next year in my internship and future plans of when they would come visit me. Then I got in the car with my dad and the reality of me actually being away from them set in and I spent the next few hours trying to compose myself and choke down tears. We got there and went and found the apartment I would move into the next day. I remember how surreal it all felt. Good ol’ Bella Springs. It really was an awesome place!

Then we had to go get a new phone. We had a local cell phone provider in NM so I had to get a new phone right away. I remember sitting in the hotel that night trying to figure out how to work it. I actually still have the same voice message that I recorded that day on my phone… I should probably update that! My parents stayed for a couple days and the day they left I cried in the Perkins’ backyard with the two second year girls (who were total strangers to me then) for a good half hour. I truly didn’t think I was going to make it for the first 10 days or so. I would dream about packing my car up in the middle of the night and leaving. I’m so glad I didn’t!

I can’t imagine what my life would look like without my first year of DI, or the year and a half after that with Desperation. An amazing journey began that weekend. I became an adult. I met incredible people who would forever change my life. I created my own opinions and developed godly convictions. I discovered my giftings and passions. I spent hours upon hours in tour buses and fifteen passenger vans. I became an expert packer! I went to three different countries. I lived a life that ruined me for the Kingdom. I let my past become my past and allowed God to redeem my life and mark my future. Truly it was a beautiful journey.

Five years later there are days that I wish I could go back and re-live. I know I took that time for granted. I am forever grateful for it though and know that my best days are yet to come.

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