hello! it’s long past due for an update on life. the past few months have flown by in a way. after the summer, I spent my time adding up the credits I still needed to graduate, and planned out which electives and classes I wanted to take to finish one last semester. I also joined the swim team for one last season! it was bitter sweet. my younger brother Ethan also swam, though he doesn’t seem much younger when you see us together. 🙂 it was such a blessing for my last season – it changed the dynamic and gave me an even better appreciation for the sport and for him !
I’ve decided not to participate in this season of track & field, but I get to watch him at his meets now and see him do things similar to the older brothers – in different ways, and with a different perspective. I find myself missing the camaraderie and competition, but it’s interesting how my perspective is shifting since deciding to step back.
I have been searching for a job since finishing swimming, and God has just recently provided one for me! I have been able to work part time here-and-there for dad, but as I prepare for the next seasons in my life, I know the importance of having a consistent job that I can really work hard at. so this summer I am looking forward to focusing my time toward putting some savings away while maintaining and building new friendships! because of my ideas on “next steps” next year, I wasn’t planning on purchasing a car, but for the sake of ease this summer I have been considering it! if God allows, I’d like to buy something used and possibly re-sell it when the time comes. I am praying for His direction because I am not set on either option !
as far as education goes… the Lord has really been working on my heart in that area since about august! around then, I started looking into midwifery. my heart was quickly drawn toward it as I dug into the medical education, emotional growth, relationship building opportunities and hospitality/servanthood aspects. I’ve never seen myself going after a traditional education for the purpose of a job or vocation, but I could see God start to open my eyes to a different possibility; one that still made it possible to pursue, maybe at the same time, what I feel He has always drawn my heart to, motherhood. it overwhelms me to think about having the opportunity to serve women, children, families, and marriages, all while still having the open door to have a family of my own. it doesn’t surprise me that God could do something like that… but through me? it’s hard to even think about. even still, He has continued to point me toward this path of pursuing midwifery credentials, and He has given me the confidence to continue until He redirects my steps.
what does that look like right now? for starters, it looks like getting myself TOGETHER and moving forward on signing up for some courses !! I’ve procrastinated because I am weak in the area of committing to things I’m not confident in. but it’s time to move past that fear and be a good steward of my time in this semi-slow season i’ve been gifted with ! I actually just signed up for a CLEP prep course which I am very excited to get started on.
my goal is to take some classes in this next year, starting now, in order to take care of as many prerequisites as possible using my own savings. then I’ve found an opportunity for the next steps after that… but I’m going to save that for another post ! I feel like it needs its own because of how huge it is. 🙂
until then, I would love your prayers as the summer is about to begin here ! my desire is to not lose sight of the ways I’ve grown in this “off season,” as wintery and dull as it has seemed on the shell (anyone else? 💁🏼♀️).
it already seems so far away from the weekend the fam spent house-sitting on the beach last september when I started learning about and diving into all God “might have in store for me.” HE REALLY HAS AMAZED LITTLE ME with the ways He has turned around my perspective of what my life could look like in these next few years. If you’re my age or in a season similar to mine, you know the mindset that I had just a few months ago (and that still creeps back randomly)!
I’d love to know more about you and pray for you as well, even if you’re in a whole different season – whether it’s quieter, busier, clearer in its upcoming plans, or far more confusing. after seeing just in a short amount of time the way my view of life has shifted, I believe He can do the same for you, and use us in each others’ lives to encourage and to build up – and keep us uncomfortable in this world !
take a look at James 4 for some warnings I have been digging into on the trap of worldliness. here are a few verses specifically to draw attention to the easy errors of our hearts – “ 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. […] 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
I hope to be back soon with more frequent updates! maybe I will make it my goal to post around once a week? do you think I can do it? 😉
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anna cherie