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,
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.
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| The next day, on another adventure: riding the bus with my sister! |
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| After I finally arrived--waiting AND WAITING for my luggage |
