This Past Year...

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.