Cha-cha-cha-changes

Sorry for such the long time between post, my summer has been really busy. I have enjoyed spending time with the kids in my ministry and also getting to hang out with the parents and build some great relationships. It’s kind of hard to believe that it is time for school to start again, seems like we just ended. I am ready to start though because I only have a year and a half left of school. It’s hard to believe because to be honest getting my Masters was never really a plan of mine. But as I have learned what we plan is not what the Lord may have planned. But I digress…the reason I am posting is because something I did today made me think about the changes I have gone through over the years. I am getting started with making a T-Shirt quilt, with the help of my Hammond mom, Mrs. Rhonda Smith. So I am beginning to cut all my shirts and as I am going through the different shirts I am thinking back to when I was in high school. If you look below, there are two pictures. One of me at my senior year prom and the other as a dinner with friends this summer:

That’s me on the far right.

Again me on the far right.

As I was going through my shirts today and thinking about all the different ways that I have changed in the past 8 years, it really amazed me.  For the many of you who did not know me in high school and back in the day, I am not sure you would think it was the same me. I look at how I have changed physically and thank God that he has given me to strength to lose the 27 lbs I have lost recently. But I am also so thankful for the strength He has given me through the years. I think that if it were up to me I might not have ever left Benton and then I would have missed out on all that God had in store for my life. I also know that He has placed people in my life to help me through tough times in my life and showed me that it is ok to go and try new things and step out on faith. I think it is amazing how God will use situations and people in your life to mold you and shape you into someone that you might not have expected for his glory. To all those people who have helped me through the year and encouraged me thank you. But most of all thank the Lord for being willing to take someone who is a jumbled messed and using me in ways that I ever imagined.