Reflections..

It is New Years Eve 2010. I can't even believe it... 

When I think back on this past year, it's hard to imagine and comprehend all the things that have happened and all the things that have changed. This time last year I was NERVOUS out of my mind. I was probably packing and getting ready to leave behind my family, my friends, Calgary....everything familiar.... to go to a province that I had never ever been to before. Not to mention coming to a new school halfway through the year, when everybody already knew each other. I was SO scared. Despite all my many emotions, I remember looking back on that past fall and seeing how God had completely and totally pieced together my going to Redeemer. What little doubt I had was swept away when I looked at how God had led me through the entire application process and opened all the doors for me to keep going...to move to Ontario. Last January, it didn't make ANY sense, I felt like I was blindly being led away to this foreign land to go to a school I hardly knew about. But God was faithful, and He knew what He was doing. 

The first month at Redeemer was so hard. I remember being homesick alot and frustrated because I didn't know anybody; PLUS super overwhelmed because everyone else already had friends and I didn't. The first night at Redeemer I hungout with my wonderful new RA Lori, and we went to dorm 29 for dinner. Those girls were seriously the biggest blessings of my life!! :) Right away I felt completely welcomed and I was introduced to so many new people. I hungout with the girls who lived there all night; talking to them in Becky and Michelle's room and watching Paranormal Activity in the basement....AHHH scariest movie of my life...that was a bonding moment forsure... :P The friendships I made from the beginning of my time at Redeemer are still my close friends today. I feel so blessed to have them in my life, and I've seen how friendships centred on Christ are the ones that will last in the end. Redeemer was a huge leap out of my comfort zone but it forced me to rely even more on God and it defenitly made me a more independent person; showing me that I had to be the one to budget my money, make my own meals and be a good house mate. Good life lessons:) My mother would agree. haha. 

I pretty much went through every emotion at Redeemer that first semester. I was sad, homesick and lonely at first....but then slowly God gave me back my joy, and showed me all these amazing new friends and ways to get involved in my school and in my courses. I learned that when I do something that's apart of God's will, He WILL help me get through it, even when it's extremely scary and frustrating. 

The summer was good and bad. I loved being home with my family, but I missed everyone from Redeemer ALOT. God taught me so much more about reliance on Him, and that I MUST seek Him first. I learned what it was like to fight God and lose. But I also learned what it was like to submit to God's will, and have peace. I will never ever forget the joys of this past summer; hanging out with my family, hosting the one year Capernwray reunion, going to the family reunion in Minnesota, Stampede, the amazing ladies at Curves, driving, seeing the mountains, tubing, boating......eating icecream :) The hard things, I will never forget either. 

I came back to Redeemer late August for HA training. I was super nervous going back but also excited. Going through the training made me PUMPED for the year ahead and it was awesome meeting new friends and seeing old ones again. Certain things about this fall made it a hard one; and there were many days where I would NEED to pour into God's word for strength. Joy and sorrow go hand in hand, and this past fall is a testimony to that. 100%. With hard things come great things, and I can honestly say that being back at Redeemer has been AMAZING. I am so thankful for all the people I have met, the girls in my dorm, working at Williams, my classes, everything!! God has been at work in so many different lives and in my life, and it is SO cool seeing how things have changed from September until now. I can't wait to see what else is in store this new year !! :)

As a word of encouragement; don't give up when things look bleak. Sometimes God has to make us go through the storm in order to get to the place He has for us on the other side. Get your strength directly from God, because believe me....the things of this world will not ever completely satisfy you. Seek His will and follow it; it's not worth it to know you're out of His will but do nothing about it. Be there for the people you care about and be the best friend you possibly can be. I will never forget the people in my life who have stuck with me through thick and thin, and the new friends who have shown me what a true friend really looks like. Set goals for yourself, live your life to the fullest, and all those cliche things :) But actually....:) 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 

2011 here we come...... :)