Thanksgiving Break

Tomorrow I go back to Northern Virginia to commence my Thanksgiving break. I am super excited to spend time with my family and just relax...and do homework (hopefully). I'll probably explore DC or the nova area because there is always something to do around there. My goal is to find a good study spot--cute coffee shop? I think yes.

As excited as I am to have a bit of a break from college I haven't been able to get Charlotte off my mind this whole week. Everyone I'm talking to is anticipating going home and have plans with to catch up with their family, spend time with friends etc. I have some plans as well but I haven't been dwelling on it too much cause so I don't get homesick...It's a weird place to be knowing that I won't be riding south to the crisp...but probably still hot Charlotte air and its surroundings that literally brings a smile off my face when I exit on 485 to Stonecrest.

In this hybrid state of my family moving and still having ties elsewhere, sometimes I make myself nervous with the little details I forget. The other day I literally couldn't even remember the name of the town my family moved to, to save my life...and usually as a nerd I am ridiculously good with details.

I have been blessed with good solid friends from Liberty that live in nova and some new friends from the summer I hope to catch up with. I just can't get over the familiarity of home...driving to Qdoba, Chickfila, Calvary, Starbucks, my friends houses where I just seem to be at peace, catching up with people that know me. I joked that I'll probably wind up skyping all my Charlotte friends over break. Truth is, that's probably true. I'll be back in the area for Christmas break for a little bit which is not that far off at all. It's not the end of the world not being able to go "home." With all the change, I am grateful for the familiarity of nova now and the adventures that can occur and am thankful for God's blessings.

Sometimes I just miss home and all that it entails.

To whom it may concern:

Sometimes I wonder if you exist.

I really hate it when my insecurities get the best of me.

I know there are godly men out there...I know them....but none of them are for me. Yet.

So maybe one of these days we'll have our "cute meet" and we'll both have that twinkle in our eyes.

And then you can write the long letter of thanks and send the multiple texts for organizing things to get the special moment for ready for me.


Yeah, I know life isn't a fairy tale or a chick flick.  Praise God for that.

But for now, I'm content waiting.

God's way.

Sometimes its hard...but I'll be ready for you when it's our time.

Til then, I'm continuing on this adventure called life and figuring out my steps.

The Calm

I wouldn't say I'm in a funk, but I guess I kind of am. It seems like everything is going on around me and there isn't anything major hitting me (which is great). The Lord has given me relief this semester from direct storms for quite sometime, which I am beyond grateful for...but the other day I found myself thinking "God where's the trial?" And that's a dangerous question. It's not like I'm testing God, which it can sound like that being written down but I'm almost confused at the relief. God has allowed me to live very prosperously the past few months and I have been counting my blessings left and right.

 I have been falling more in love with Him in different ways than I have in the past and my relationship with Him has been one where He responds to me directly in prayer...God knows the desires of my hearts and I'm struggling in different ways than I have before...nothing terrible, just different. He keeps on telling me like a loving Father, "I know Bethany. Be patient my daughter." It's difficult sometimes to be patient. I want to rush into things or for just things to happen but I have to remain true in the truths that I have owned about God's faithfulness and directing my steps. It seems as soon as I claim being content God tests my heart on it...in those moments He gently reminds me of His character and His love.

There is a season for everything.

Right now I am finding my contentment in where I am at and I am grateful for the calm...even though sometimes it keeps me up at night. Strange how things can be haha. My resting is in Him and Him alone.

I apologize if all of this doesn't make sense, my mind isn't always the best at communicating.

It matters

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and  slow to become angry."

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?  My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

My steps are directed

Recently I have come to the conclusion that God literally just places in me in situations. Most of the time I have no idea why I do what I do...it could be my interests, a sudden urge to get up out of my chair and walk somewhere, or just doing what I'm doing...not really asking for anything, but the opportunity is open. I don't always get the full plan He has, but it's okay because He does.

And He has been confirming His complete faithfulness to me so many ways these past few weeks. I am humbled by his grace and the opportunity I am allowed to participate in. With my new job I have had the privilege of being able to interview and meet some well-known speakers which seems kind of surreal. Even more surreal than that though, today I got a phone call from the government school inviting me to a reception with Michele Bachmann after convo Wed with a limited guest list and then to a reception for the Attorney General of VA. I didn't really know how to react because I feel very undeserving. I am not the best or most rehearsed in politics. I care on a daily basis about the things closest to my heart--my family, best friends, academics, making people's days and being an encouragement, and having fun and sweet conversations.

I don't really belong sometimes in the world I've been in, but for some reason God is arranging the details, making the plans for me and giving me a phone call and placement. I don't expect my life to change on Wed or anything of the sorts, nor even to meet Bachmann, but the experience is priceless and just another way that God is showing Himself faithful to me as I stay faithful to the call He has on my life. Of this I'm sure, I'm glad that I have no idea what the future holds, because I'm pretty sure I'd be scared out of my mind. I like the moment by moment direction. I need that.

May I never take His direction on my life foregranted nor forget How good He really is.

Weekend!

This weekend has been awesome.

Actually, this whole week has been pretty sweet. Despite the busy busy time it's been with all the different responsibilities I have had, I have also been extremely blessed to participate in all that I have had. God keeps on showing Himself faithful time and time again in the little things and big things of my life. I can't thank Him enough. I think one of the coolest moments I had this week was the opportunity to sit down with my pastor Johnnie Moore here at Liberty. Since this place is so big it's rare that you can get some one-on-one time with the upper guys. But with my new job I had to interview him so I had that time. After we did the interview with him I was able to talk to him and thank him for being my pastor and speaking truth in my life. It was a pretty sweet moment and I thank God for providing me that.

One way I've been overwhelming blessed in has been my friendships! This past weekend I had the awesome opportunity to spend some quality time with my dear friend Emily Ladnier. We have been friends since 7th grade  and she is part of the reason I'm here at Liberty. Since the move I wasn't able to spend my summer nights I cherish with her this past summer, but I am so pumped that we had the chance to go to the same school so we can spend time with one another. I honestly feel so uplifted when I'm hanging out with her. We enjoyed our night of salsa dancing, sleeping in, great Christ-centered conversation over breakfast, and spontaneous fun. I am grateful for the time I had with her this weekend.

Every time I sit down and thank God for things in my life I tend to get overwhelmed with awe on how He has given me such amazing people to know--those whose  hearts are passionate for Him- always pushing me forward to Him. I am in walking distance of such beautiful people inside and out. Two of best friends lives across the hall from me, I have an incredible roommate, and great friends in a small radius--Philemon 1:7

The rest of the weekend I spent footballin it up!!! What What! It started early in the day  with tailgating with the broskies and then in the stadium. One thing I love about this place is the sense of community--and this was no different. It  It was great to see the bonds form between people on the hall and with the bros and all gather together to cheer on the football team--HOMERUN!! Yeah, that's basically my knowledge of football, but I cheered hard, wore red, surprisingly stayed the whole time (it's typical to leave early) and saw an amazing fireworks show at the end of the game. At football games, or any big event, I have trouble sitting still. But really, I am always moving around to talk to different people--checkin in to see how everyone's doing, cheer hard, maybe even practice the same jokes on the different friend groups...at least I'm honest.

The time on the mountain has been nice this weekend...now today shall be spent sharpening my mind, getting down to business with my homework. But don't worry--I will end the night with my all-time favorite sport- BROOMBALL!!! Couldn't be more psyched.

Thank you Lord for a blessed past 7 days. You are too good to me.

Begin again

Year three at the good ol'LU and it has been off to a fantastic start!! Junior  year has been the year of familiarity and of change. It's familiar in the sense that I am now an upperclassman- I know the ropes that are before me- how to get around campus, where to eat, how to budget time for classes, friends etc. I am established in my major with my profs and higher ups. I understand leadership (cause I'm one of the leaders)... I know Lynchburg well and I go around campus constantly seeing familiar faces--for this I'm grateful for, I missed this back in NOVA.

Some changes include I live on a new dorm in a different part of campus called the hill. Yes, it's an actual hill with a ton of steps, so it's a grand time haha. But I actually enjoy the third floor. It's homey :)

It's the same in the sense that I have quite a few friends from both my previous halls on my dorm. It's different because every hall has their own dynamics. We have an awesome bro dorm, which is great. It's also different living so close to them and having such fantastic leadership from them and unity.

One of the biggest changes so far is my new job here at Liberty. Over the summer I randomly put an application in for a job as a writer for the news stories that go on the website. I forgot about it and assumed I wouldn't get it...well I got a call last week, interviewed, got offered the job and started working effective immediately. So now I get paid for all the events I go. Not gonna lie, I have very little experience as a writer, yet alone a journalist. I kind of feel like I just put on a hat I didn't know existed and I'm supposed to wear it like it's my job...because IT IS my job.

I get paid for going to convo (because I'm writing a story on it). I get paid for attending random events like the one I wrote about in my first article. It's a pretty sweet hook up. The down side is I have to be in the office at 8 every morning and leave close to 5 (with classes in between). The upside is I don't have to work nights anymore...So yes, I finally turned in my Chick-fil-A days. Thursday was my last shift....my pleasure.

With the new changes and shaping of the beginning of the semester I am still adjusting to life here on the mountain. The sheer familiarity can be deceiving. I may have unrealistic expectations and can't count on certain things or people. I have to be flexible to the new, which God is constantly teaching me.

Over the summer since I was in a new town I started becoming a homebody. I felt like my endurance isn't as great anymore, at least sometimes. I feel like I'm only focusing on people on my hall (which isn't bad) but not spending as much time with good friends who are in a different part of campus or moved off.

I've also tried to lessen my attachment to my cellphone. This is good and bad. Good because I don't want my life to be run by technology....bad because I miss things.

Sometimes it's just the little things that can make or break a day. I need to remember to give myself grace and find my own niche again like every year. Not be run by the familiarity, ignoring the new, nor get anxious about the new responsibilities and forget the past.

It's the beginning of the semester highs and lows...in it all, to be God be the glory.