I find it amazing how time flies. It seems that it keeps
speeding up, and each day just gets faster and faster. This fact was only
emphasized when I sat looking at the pictures scrolling through on my
screensaver recalling all the fun memories. Each one so clear in my mind that
it felt like just yesterday. I love the way that they can transport you back to
a time and trigger layers of thoughts that end up leading you down a trailing
path of memories. Often, I end up so far from where I started that it’s hard to
remember exactly where that starting point was.
I was travelling down this memory lane today as I worked
again to pack up the things in my dorm room. It has been a little bit over a
year since I decided that I was going to live on campus at Eastern. To say it
was a hard decision for me is a bit of an understatement. And, I suppose, not
completely true. There were some aspects of moving out there that were
extremely easy for me accept, and I was more than excited to be a part of them.
There were other parts, though, that I was not gung-ho about. It would be hard
not to be with my family all the time eating dinner and talking and hanging
out. It would be hard to split my time between family, work, and homework.
There were many drawbacks, and I thoroughly debated the decision. In the end, I
chose to take the step and do it. I was excited about living with one of my
really good friends. I looked forward to being able to be more involved with
ministry on campus. I anticipated having the opportunity to participate in
campus events more often. I spent most of the summer last year building
pictures in my mind of how this school year was going to look, concocting big
plans, and dreaming about fun adventures.
I almost have to laugh at myself as I sit here looking in
retrospect at those plans. How different my year actually looks than the way I
imagined it. Who would have imagined that I would have lived most of the year
by myself roommate-less? Who would have imagined that work would become so
crazy that it took over my life on the weekends, and I found myself rushing
around hardly seeing my family and missing out on many of the campus
activities? Who would have thought that my plans would be so very wrong? But,
in the midst of this, I have to remember all of the things that I didn’t plan
for that happened. I met wonderful people, got involved in a great Bible study
with my Streeter girls, had many movie nights, and, of course, incorporated the
ubiquitous laughter that always seems to follow us around. It was a year of
growth for me – and that certainly wasn’t in my plans.
I don’t think we ever plan for growth. It seems to sneak
up on us as we slowly battle through our tough times. Then, little by little,
we realized that all of the stretching did help to grow our lives a bit. Yeah,
there were many nights where the tears spilled down my face uncontrollably, and
dear Lydia was there faithfully to hand me tissues and hug me tightly. I don’t
know what I would have done without that girl. God has blessed me with her special
friendship. He tends to know exactly who we need in our lives and when we need
them. I don’t think I have ever grown so close to anyone that quickly. I was
able to bear my deepest thoughts to her, and she listened without judgment
loving me unconditionally. Her words of wisdom soothed my aching heart, and her
presence comforted me when words couldn’t. Hannah was always there willing to listen to
my ranting and frustrations. I appreciated the perspective that she gave me
when I had none. She helped me to see beyond where I was. She wasn’t afraid to
move me to a different subject and help me to get my mind off of things. Then
there’s Kylene. I think I shocked her sometimes with how real I got with her. I
didn’t hold anything back, and thank God that He gave her the words to say at
the right time because it wasn’t always prim and proper Danika speaking. She
poured God’s Word into me even when I didn’t want to hear it, and I did have
those times. But she graciously loved me through it all.
If you leave this blog post thinking that my entire year
here at school was spent in a dark room completely depressed with tears rolling
down my face – you got the wrong picture. This was definitely one of the
hardest years that I have lived yet; however, I did enjoy many wonderful
moments in it. I can’t say that I am completely through my struggle either.
Slowly, very slowly, I have been learning things. That’s life, though,
constantly learning and growing. We don’t ever stop that process, unless we
choose to – which would be a very destructive thing for our well-being. Life
goes on even in the midst of our trials. It’s our choice to keep living, truly living, life and enjoy our journey. That
is what I have tried to keep in the forefront of my mind through my life.
Enjoying the journey. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Not everything is what we
expect, plan, or even want, but we can choose
to take whatever comes and see the good in it even though the good may not be
immediately apparent. I’m still searching for some of those good things. I know
that I will find them at some point. In the meantime, there are plenty I have
found:
1.
Bible study with amazing girls
2.
Late night talks
3.
Movie nights
4.
Pumpkin cake-in-a-mug
5.
Education classes
6.
Packages in the mail
7.
Laughter
8.
Surprise birthday celebrations
9.
Game nights with Monopoly Deal, Mexican hot
chocolate, and Sweet Home Alabama
10. One
Direction
11. Hockey
games filled with laughter of newfound friends
12. Talks
in the library being interrupted because “the walls are not sound-proof”
13. Inside
jokes (Rutabaga, ham on wheat, salad)
14. Gaining
a new middle name
15. Quotes
in the quote book
16. Yogurt
parfaits
17. Secret
Val-buddies
18. Dance
parties
19. Chris
Tomlin Concert Road trip
20. Sledding
under the stars
21. And
so many more….
Thank you everyone who has been a part of my life in some
way this year! I have loved the memories, and although it’s bittersweet to see
a season of life come to a close, I will always remember this year of my life
as I look forward to what is to come.
