Here we are on the eve of a new year...and, as many others are certainly doing, I've been reflecting on 2014.
It was a BIG year...a crazy BIG year.
Probably the biggest year for me since 1996.
In January, I wrote a post on a word that God had given me for 2014 - TRUST. And let me say, this has been an interesting journey.
At the beginning of 2014, I had plans. Plans for the year. Things already in the books. Dylan's graduation, follow up trip, leaving for college, etc.
But I could not have even FATHOMED what 2014 was actually going to bring.
Nor how much I would be leaning on that word TRUST.
When my heart was breaking because I just knew that Dylan would move far, far away from me for school...I whispered "trust".
When I looked at my bank account and wasn't quite sure how we were going to make it to the next week..."trust".
When I was lying in bed mulling over every little thing in my life at 3am..."trust".
And just like that...God came through every time.
The school thing, I admit, was the hardest for me. How in the world could I imagine the person I had wrapped my entire life around for 18 years living 9 hours from me? I remember grieving over this thought before the decision had even been made.
And finally, one day, I just had to give it up. I had to trust. I had to say "God if you want him in Florida, then I have to know that You are going to make this OK for me."
Although, I have to say...I'm extremely thankful that God & I were on the same page about keeping him in North Carolina. ;)
Ultimately on the school thing...I just prayed that God would make it crystal clear where He wanted Dylan.
Boy, did He.
I don't think I'll ever forget the day that the envelope came from Wake Forest...I didn't even open it...I gave it to Dylan to open it. He just looked at it...didn't say a word...and handed it to me.
Oh, by the way, he had already committed to High Point University. We'd paid the deposit.
I looked...and couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Basically after it was all said & done, his college would be paid for. With very little loan money. All grants. All scholarships. I basically couldn't afford to NOT send him to Wake.
It took a little more time for everything to process for Dylan. For me, the final decision was made. For Dylan, he wanted to consider. But a day later, he said "get the deposit back from HPU" and...here we are.
Dylan has completed his first semester at Wake. He has made friends. He has adjusted somewhat (I think there's more of that to come). He did well in his first semester. And in about 13 days from now, he'll start with his second semester.
Sometimes trust is easy...but often times it's hard. It's hard to trust that everything is going to turn out OK when we can't see the end. This year, I've definitely learned a lot. And my God has never been proven un-trustworthy. Which I kind of knew...but needed to be reminded.
I don't know what my word for 2015 is going to be yet. I have a few rolling around in my head, but I'm waiting to see what word God gives me.
But I do know that I can't wait to see what it is...and what He has in store for me this year.
Happy New Year!
