Remembering

I'm at my sister's house waiting for my parents to come here (it's five minutes until midnight). They are over at my aunt's place (30 minutes across town). Most likely it was my 85-year old grandma that kept them over there so late (she loves playing card games and insists on playing as many games as possible--sometimes keeping the family up until 1 am).

I'm sitting here at my sister's place listening to dryer and remembering. Seven months ago I sat at this same computer writing about the unknown in front of me. And now the mostly known is in front of me. I can fill in the general lines of my near future. I know where I'll live. I know where I'll work. I know where I'll attend church.

I came back to the states saying that I was going to fight for my future. I was determined to find a job that would give me the time I needed to work on my dreams. I was sure that the best job would be at a community college and yet God has given me so much more than what I was fighting for. I was just hoping for decent hours and decent pay, but it looks like I'll be getting decent hours, decent pay, a city with a large Adventist community, and a mission to boot (working at a school where I can be open about my faith!).

I feel so grateful for the gift God has given me. I still shake my head. This job did not come on my schedule. And yet the delay was a gift. God used this waiting time to draw me closer to Him. In some ways the last couple of months have been tough and yet in other ways the months have been blessed. I have been dependent on my parents and struggling every day to work at a job that I feel inadequate for. And yet God has taken my "bitter waters" and sweetened them with His presence.

I'm sleepy as I write this. It is now 12:15 am. My parents should be home soon. I'll let them in the door and then crawl into my sleeping bag in approximately the same place I slept seven months ago. At that time I fell asleep listening to the quiet of the walls (no geckos, no tokays!) and wondering about my future. Tonight I'll fall asleep wondering about my future still. I'll be wondering what plans does God have for me in Florida? What gifts and struggles and joys and growth does He have ahead for me?

I'm blessed.