Now Boarding.

It has been ages since I have posted a blog and I have recently felt nudged to begin writing again. So, I am blowing off the dust and cleaning out the cobwebs inside my old blog. I am excited/nervous about penning my journey and sharing it with anyone who wants to read (which may not be anyone except myself!). Writing has always come a bit easier then trigonometry or balancing chemical compounds, so my therapist recently encouraged me to begin writing on a more personal note. In a sense this is more for me than you, but if I offer insight along the way, then that makes my heart do a little dance.

In the process of rearranging my old blog, I decided to rename the whole thing. 'Experiencing Turbulence' seems to be the story of my life. One of my favorite things to do is travel. It may be a daytrip with my mom, or a week long excursion with my youth group; I love going new places! My favorite, favorite, favorite trip {ever} was to Denver, Colorado. I traveled with a dear group of friends last summer. Our flight left Chicago and when flying over Iowa and into Nebraska we experienced some of the most severe turbulence I have ever felt in my life. My Sprite came close to taking a tumble several times (going to the bathroom wasn't even an option!) Turbulence is caused by random, chaotic air pockets caused by changes in air pressure. In fact, there are all sorts of types of turbulence such as wake turbulence, mountain wave, and wind shear. Typically the flight attendant announces that turbulence is to be expected and for passengers to remain seated and buckle up; hence the saying, "hold on tight, it's to be a bumpy ride".

                My flight to Denver is not the only time I've experienced such chaotic bumpiness. Actually, I think that I experience it on a daily basis. I am quickly learning that as a 21 year old college student, life is never what I expect it to be. Life has never been a smooth flight. What I mean, is that life has been very easy in a sense. I have a happy family, I have great friends, I have a wonderful church. But upon entering my college years, no one announced that turbulence was to be expected and I should buckle up and hold on! Plainly put, I learned that life is never what I expect it to be. For example, three years ago at this time, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life or any direction for that matter.  I was spiraling into the darkest time I have walked in my short two decades of life. {I will touch on that a little later.}

                In a big honkin' nutshell, my life is full of turbulent situations. When flying to various destinations I never really consider the fact that things could go really wrong and I might not make it to my set location. I fully trust that the trained pilot will land the aircraft safely and I will be on my merry way. On my journey of life, I am BEYOND confidant that I know I will land safely to my destination.            

                Through all of this mumble jumble, I welcome you aboard to this crazy, insane, unmarked, turbulent expedition called life. I am ready to share with all of you bits and pieces of my heart, my reality of life.

                I want to share with you this verse from Philippians 4. I don't have time to explain it or give the background information about it (that will give YOU something to do!) "I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles."