Thursday, January 1, 2015

Adventures and Alterations

Unexpected.
Here I sit at gate B22 in Atlanta airport, waiting for my flight that will whisk me away on a grand adventure all the way across the country to see my sister and her husband in Seattle. Seattle. Washington. Across the country. Are you getting how incredible this is? I mean, if you don’t know how far away Seattle is, go watch “Sleepless in Seattle,” and Tom Hanks will break it down for you.
I was not expecting this trip in the slightest. This was my grand surprise Christmas gift from my parents—probably one of the most amazing gifts I have ever received. I had in my mind how I expected this Christmas break to go, and with one little box containing a toy airplane and a flight itinerary, all my expectations were swept away and replaced with the thrilling reality that I would get to see my sister—soon! 
That’s basically my life these days. False expectations and unexpected new plans. I hope that doesn’t sound like I’m complaining; I most certainly am not. God has just taught me a little something about His sovereignty over this past semester. You see, I went into this semester thinking I knew what I was going to do, and it involved graduating through Clearwater. However, all my plans fell away when I was informed that I could not stay at Clearwater and start nursing school the semester I wanted (fall 2015). So I changed plans. I started thinking about other schools to transfer to, or about going to my planned nursing school without going through Clearwater (that probably doesn’t make much sense unless you know the whole situation—just know that I was making various plans). It shook me up a bit at first, having to change plans like that. However, over time I began to accept and adjust to my new expectations. I didn’t know what school I would end up at or how everything would work out, but I knew that I couldn’t finish through Clearwater, and I would probably end up going home to Chattanooga for nursing school. Just when that had settled in and I was mentally ready for the change—PLOT TWIST.
Somebody high up in my college’s administration was thinking about me—me—and decided she wanted to provide a way for me to be able to still get my degree through CCC. The timing was incredible. I was making my schedule up for the spring semester, expecting to not graduate through CCC, so I didn’t register for all the classes that they required of me. Then the new opportunity came up, and I shifted my classes once more, making it possible for me to complete all the classes that CCC required of me.
I love the nursing school CCC is partnered with. Their facilities are beautiful, they have a fantastic reputation, and everything is great. However, it would be significantly less expensive if I were to go to a nursing school in Chattanooga. I would still get my RN (like I would at the other school); I just wouldn’t get a bachelor’s degree through CCC, which is not really a big deal. When I came home for Thanksgiving break, my mom took me to visit Chattanooga State Community College to talk to people there about what classes I would need, what their school is like, etc. After that meeting, I knew what decision I should make: I need to come home next fall. The decision wasn’t a big blow; I was expecting the same thing earlier this past semester, after all. Both schools are great nursing schools, and there are pro’s and con’s to both, so it wasn’t breaking my heart, having to go to one over the other. It was just another change of plans. Right when things had shifted, they were shifting back. It was a little overwhelming.
I got to kick off Christmas break by studying for my TEAS test, which is a test that Chatt. State requires for application into their nursing program. After that was all done and I got a little rest time, I got to spend a big chunk of one day with my mom, applying to both nursing schools—the one in Tampa and the one in Chattanooga. (just in case I don’t get accepted into Chatt. State; I may even be applying to some others here in the near future). My church here in TN knows my current plans, and some here have asked me when I’m coming home for nursing school. I told them my expectations, but I also told them that I did not know for sure what is going to happen. You see, I’ve learned that, really, I don’t know anything for certain except that God is in control. I sometimes wonder why God changed the mind of CCC to have them let me finish through them if I’m not going to do it after all. However, even though I am most likely not going to take their very generous offer (though I am very grateful for it), God still taught me a special lesson through that major plot twist: He can do anything. Of course, this is something I already knew—something that has been taught to me from a very young age (**insert Sunday school song here**). But how often do we actually expect Him to do something so radical in our own lives? Change plans so that something that was previously not an option now is? I know I wasn’t expecting it. And I was quite in awe when the plans changed. I didn’t include all the details in this post, but so many things were involved—so many things were going on that week—the fact that the woman changed her mind that day was obviously a God-thing. God will do whatever He sees fit to get me wherever He wants me. So I really have no need to worry about the next step. I can plan for it—should plan for it—but I don’t know if God’s going to throw a detour in there. He might. I don’t know.
Usually I am a control freak. Usually, not knowing the next step scares the crud out of me. Usually I panic…
It’s amazing what college does to a person.
It’s just that I have seen so clearly God’s intimate involvement in my life. His power. His control. I’m just not scared anymore. Yes, sometimes I really, really wish I knew for sure what is coming next. I mean, I have to order books. I have to schedule classes. What if I mess up? What if I count my chickens before they hatch? But, at the same time, I have peace knowing that God is powerful, and He provides for His children. I plan on writing another post soon about some of the experiences I had last semester, seeing God’s provision in my life. Looking back on this semester, I know that my part is to “trust in the Lord with all [my] heart and do not lean on [my] own understanding. In all [my] ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight [my] paths” (Proverbs 3:5&6 ESV). It really is that simple. It may not always be easy, but it is simple. I learned that verse years ago. I have always believed it. But I didn’t always see it in action. Now that I have, I see what an exciting thing it can be.
My good friend Katelyn and I love adventures. We love going on them, creating them, 
thinking of them, reading of them… Our adventures may not always look like adventures to other people, but we do savour each and every one. This trip I’m on to Seattle is a great adventure (by the way, I boarded the flight a while ago and am currently traveling at 499mph with a head wind of 26 mph at an altitude of 31,091 feet—if your curiosity stretches further, the outside temperature is -60 °F, I have traveled 1,198 miles and have 1,015 miles ahead of me, with only 2 hours and 06 minutes more to go—and by the time I got that all written, most of that information has already changed, of course, but I still found it all fascinating, so I decided to share).When I was still sitting at my gate, I texted Matty, “I’M GOING ON AN ADVENTURE” (probably for the zillionth time, or so). He responded by telling me that everything is an adventure… and isn’t that true? Life is crazy. Does a day ever go by where nothing unexpected occurs? Even if you’re expectations are that everything is going to be unexpected, if that comes true, then your day went as expected, making your day unexpected… Sorry. I’ll stop that.

My point is, God has me on a great adventure. I don’t know what’s coming next—just that He’s in control of whatever it is, and “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 ESV). Right this very second, I’m in one of those lovely little sub-adventures within my great adventure—it’s one of those adventures that Katelyn and I celebrate (yes, I’m going to continue calling these sub-adventures “my adventures,” despite the whole “everything is an adventure” thing—so don’t get too picky on me, now). So here, at 29,970 feet, over whatever state this is (I wish I learned my geography better when I was little, then I could tell you), I finish this post and enjoy this adventure I’m on.
The next day, on another adventure:
riding the bus with my sister!
After I finally arrived--waiting
AND WAITING
for my luggage